The authors assessed the risks of drug-related death, suicide, and homicide after release from New York City jails in 155,272 people who were incarcerated anytime from 2001 through 2005 and examined whether the mortality rate was associated with homelessness. Using jail records matched with death and single-adult homeless registries in New York City, they calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and relative risks. After adjustment for age, sex, race, and neighborhood, the risks of drug-related death and homicide in formerly incarcerated persons were 2 times higher than those of New York City residents who had not been incarcerated in New York City jails during the study period. These relative risks were greatly elevated during the first 2 weeks after release (for drug-related causes, SMR = 8.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.2, 11.8; for homicide, SMR = 5.1, 95% CI: 3.2, 7.8). Formerly incarcerated people with histories of homelessness had higher rates of drug-related death (RR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 5.5) and suicide (RR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.4) than did persons without such histories. For individuals who died of drug-related causes, longer jail stays were associated with a shorter time until death after release. These results suggest that jail- and community-based interventions are needed to reduce the excess mortality risk among formerly incarcerated people.

Recent studies demonstrate the feasibility of developing risk prediction models for psychiatric disorders (especially psychotic disorders). The field must now advance by (1) conducting more large-scale, longitudinal studies pertaining to depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric illnesses; (2) replicating and carrying out external validations of proposed models; (3) further testing potential selective and indicated preventive interventions; and (4) evaluating effectiveness of such interventions in the context of risk stratification using risk prediction models.

The Rikers Island Key Extended Entry Program (KEEP) has offered methadone treatment for opioid dependent inmates incarcerated in New York City's jails since 1986. In response to a trend toward low-dose methadone maintenance prescribing, a quality improvement (QI) protocol trained KEEP counselors, physicians, and pharmacists in the evidence base supporting moderate-to-high methadone maintenance doses in order to maximize therapeutic effects and rates of successful reporting to community methadone treatment programs (MTPs) post release. Discharge dose level and length of incarceration data were analyzed for 2 groups of KEEP patients discharged pre/post-QI. Among patients incarcerated for 21 or more days, the proportion of those on moderate-to-high doses of methadone increased significantly. Patients who reached a moderate-to-high methadone dose demonstrated higher rates of reporting to community MTP versus lower doses, both pre- and post-QI. Overall, a higher proportion of all patients reported to community MTP post-QI.

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Hole-opening on directional motor assemblies has always been problematic. This is due to the fact that mainstream string hole opening tools cannot be used due to lack of rotation during periods of sliding. As such, use of bi-center hole opening bits have increased in an attempt to drill and open the hole in one run with a directional motor. This paper documents the development of a unique bi-center design to provide not only reliable hole opening, but also high and consistent dogleg response on a motor assembly. The project is focused on a drilling program within the Uracoa field in Eastern Venezuela (Figure 1). This application called for a build from vertical to horizontal, with maximum dogleg severity (DLS) requirement of 10.2deg/100ft. This had not been attempted in the past with bi-center bits, relying instead on conventional 8 ½" PDC bits. However, the operator had hole problems that made running 7" casing difficult in this section. To get the casing to bottom, a number of wiper trips were required to condition the hole. In order to reduce the non-productive time, a bi-center and directional motor were selected by Petrodelta / PDVSA to eliminate the additional wiper trips required with the conventional fixed cutter (FC) bits: The 8 3/8 x 9 ½" bi-center would effectively drill a larger hole size. The unique design selected features a mid-reamer section. This double profile design is considerably more stable than prior technology, delivering improved borehole quality and enhanced directional performance. The initial application was extremely successful. The elimination of the wiper trips and hole problems considerably reduced drilling time for the section, and the casing took notably less time to run. This amounted to $960K savings compared to the field average and $1.69 million compared to the previous well drilled. In addition, the required DLS was achieved while increasing ROP by 58% compared to the field average. The latest bi-center technology, in conjunction with Steerable motors, can deliver the required DLS and enlarged hole in demanding directional applications. This has proven to be an extremely cost-effective drilling system, saving nearly 10 days compared to the field offset. Introduction The Uracoa field is situated within the Temblador group, a miocene sedimentary unit located in Monagas state in Eastern Venezuela. Within the main area are the oilfields of Temblador, Isleño, Pilón, Uracoa, Bombal, Tucupita, El Salto and Jobo-Morichal (Figure 2). All fields in this area are similar in their stratigraphy and predominantly consist of the Mesa, Las Piedras, Freites, and Oficina formations (Figure 3). The specific application requires drilling the intermediate hole section (8 ½") through the Freites and Oficina formations. The Freites (late medium Miocene) consists of very hydratable claystones, unconsolidated shales and fine grain sandstones. In contrast, the Oficina formation (medium early Miocene) consists mainly of compacted shales, interbedded with a mixture of very fine grain and fine to coarse grain Oficina sandstones and thin beds of lignites. The sandstones occur in thicknesses ranging between 30 and 200', and constitute the main pay zone. API oil gravities range from 12 to 19 degrees.