More than a third of prison leaver deaths in Wales drug-related

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

A study found that 37% of deaths among prison leavers in Wales were due to drug poisoning, significantly higher than the 21% figure for England and Wales combined.

A Cardiff University report on prison leavers in Wales has found that drug poisoning accounted for 37% of deaths among those supervised in the community, significantly higher than the 21% proportion for England and Wales combined. The study also revealed that hundreds of people were homeless on the day they left prison, and that immediate custodial sentences for women in Wales increased by 27% in 2025.

Mike Vigar, operations director at Welsh substance use charity Kaleidoscope, called the findings alarming. "Every drug-related death is a preventable tragedy," he said, urging the Welsh Government to develop a renewed, evidence-led substance use strategy focused on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.

Newport and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, described the data as 'devastating' and said the prison and probation system is 'struggling with increasingly complex demand'. She stressed the need for support systems to help prison leavers live healthy lives and avoid reoffending when returning to their communities, and called for the UK and Welsh Governments to work together on issues spanning reserved and devolved boundaries.

The Welsh Government said it is working with health boards, local authorities and Public Health Wales to reduce harms from substance misuse, adding that the findings strengthen the case for full devolution of justice to Wales.

How it is being reported

• 1/3 deaths among prison leavers in Wales were due to drug poisoningOver a third of all deaths among prison leavers in Wales were due to drug poisoning according to new Wales-specific justice data published by Cardiff University.South Wales Argus · 27 Oct, 13:32
• More than third of prison leaver deaths in Wales drug related, study showsA new study revealed a higher proportion of drug deaths among prison leavers in Wales compared to those in EnglandWalesOnline · 27 Oct, 12:35

In this story: Wales · Cardiff University · England · Kaleidoscope · Ruth Jones · Welsh Government · Public Health Wales

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