A study of drug-related deaths in the Strathclyde region of Scotland during the period 1990-1997 discovered that known drug users who had recently been released from prison were at high risk of dying from a drug overdose. The majority of deaths occurred within 1 week of the release date, and polydrug use was prevalent. Morphine was the most frequently encountered drug, and it was found in combination with benzodiazepines in a significant number of cases. Alcohol was detected in approximately one-quarter of all cases, albeit at relatively modest concentrations, unlikely to cause death alone. When known drug users are released from prison in the West of Scotland, they are advised of the risks of overdose and are issued helpline numbers. This study highlights the fact that, despite the help offered, a significant number of individuals clearly resort to old habits without building up a tolerance. Table, figures, references