treatment strategy in each prison will inevitably depend on the prevailing resources and experience of the health‑care team. Aftercare The preparation of and arrangements for support in the community after release are important for any prisoner, but for drug‑dependent ofenders they are vital: reports from all over the world examining the death rate among drug users after release from prison are excessively high, particu‑ larly during the frst two weeks after release. Most of these drug users died because of drug‑related intoxication by overdosing due to reduced toler‑ ance to opiates after interrupted or reduced supply during imprisonment. Opioid‑maintenance substitution treatment has been shown to reduce this risk considerably.12 Therefore, in addition to arrangements for support in the community after release, such as housing, fnances, family problems, education, employment and further mental support,13 education on the risks of overdosing because of reduced tolerance and, for opiate‑dependent ofenders, continuation of opiate‑substitution treatment upon release from prison, are strongly recommended. 12. WHO Europe: Prevention of acute drug‑related mortality in prison populations during the immediate post‑release period (Geneva 2010). 13. Throughcare Working in Partnership: Throughcare services for prisoners with problematic drug use: a toolkit, ed. M. MacDonald et al., European Commission (Brussels 2012). Psychoactive drugs and the medical management of drug‑addicted prisoners Page 77