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Sauer S. Public stigma against fentanyl overdose decedents in the United States: A conjoint vignette experiment. Soc Sci Med 2024; 350:116937. [PMID: 38710134 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The United States is facing a drug overdose crisis, and stigma against people who use drugs is a major roadblock to implementing solutions. Despite the public health importance of understanding and mitigating substance use stigma, prior research has focused mainly on perceptions of individuals with substance use disorders and a limited set of demographic traits. This leaves critical gaps in our understanding of stigma against fentanyl overdose decedents, who represent a much broader group, including people who use substances recreationally. This study develops a more robust understanding of these attitudes through an experimental vignette survey fielded to a national sample of American adults (n = 1432). Respondents were shown two fictional fentanyl overdose obituaries where a complex suite of decedent characteristics-including demographic traits and contexts of substance use-were randomly varied in a conjoint design. Respondents then endorsed one of the two decedents for each of several attitudinal outcomes, including blameworthiness and support for various interventions, and justified their choices in an open-ended format. Results indicate that the public assesses victims of fentanyl overdose meritocratically, making judgments based on personal history and life experience rather than traditional race, class, and gender status beliefs. While certainly a signal of progress on some fronts, this meritocratic lens conflicts with the public health model of addressing the overdose crisis and exposes the alarming persistence of explicit stigma against people who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Sauer
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, 1885 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States.
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del Pozo B, Reichert J, Martins K, Taylor B. Police Use of Discretion in Encounters with People with Opioid Use Disorder: a Study of Illinois Police Officers. JOURNAL OF POLICE AND CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 39:141-156. [PMID: 38617402 PMCID: PMC11008765 DOI: 10.1007/s11896-023-09628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Police frequently encounter people with opioid use disorder (OUD), having a profound effect on their risk environment and health outcomes. Officers retain significant discretionary authority in their response to these encounters. To explore the factors that underlie these decisions, we surveyed a sample of Illinois police officers. We administered an online survey to Illinois police departments using a random sampling strategy, stratified by agency size and the rurality of their service areas. Our final sample was 248 police officers from 27 departments. We surveyed officers' beliefs about (1) influences and control over their decision making; (2) the approval of other actors in making referrals to treatment for addiction, and (3) the potential impacts of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). We analyzed the survey data using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Most officers were highly influenced by the expectations of their supervisors when responding to subjects who appeared to have an OUD, and about half would take direction from addiction treatment providers. Police in urban departments perceived greater support for MAT and were more likely to believe MAT could reduce the need for future arrests. Our findings suggest ways police officers can be influenced to make discretionary decisions that improve the health outcomes of their encounters with people with OUD: (1) Supervisors should serve as champions to promote referrals to treatment for substance use disorders; (2) collaboration between law enforcement and community addiction treatment providers should be strengthened, and (3) MAT should be supported and expanded in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon del Pozo
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, USA
| | - Jessica Reichert
- Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Chicago, USA
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Dahlem CH, Patil R, Khadr L, Ploutz-Snyder RJ, Boyd CJ, Shuman CJ. Effectiveness of take ACTION online naloxone training for law enforcement officers. HEALTH & JUSTICE 2023; 11:47. [PMID: 37979100 PMCID: PMC10656891 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-023-00250-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Training law enforcement officers (LEOs) to administer naloxone is a recommended strategy to reduce overdose deaths in the United States. To achieve this, an evidence-based and scalable naloxone training curriculum that is easy to use and readily scalable is needed. Convenient web-based training is a flexible method for delivering educational interventions particularly for LEOs who have irregular or shifting schedules. This study examined the effectiveness of a comprehensive web-based naloxone training that was created in partnership with LEOs on their knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding naloxone. METHODS From May 2019 to September 2020, five law enforcement departments from Michigan participated in web-based naloxone training. A total of 182 LEOs (77% male) were in the final sample based on matching pre-and post-test surveys. LEOs were assessed on knowledge, confidence, and attitudes towards naloxone. Negative binomial and Poisson regression was conducted to assess associations between knowledge, confidence, and attitudes towards naloxone before and after training. RESULTS Significant improvements in overdose knowledge and confidence were revealed across all departments with median (IQR) total composite scores for knowledge increasing from 35 (32, 37) to 40 (39, 42) (p < 0.01) and confidence increasing from 18.5 (15, 20) to 20 (20, 25) (p < 0.01). Median (IQR) attitude scores did not change. CONCLUSION Our web-based naloxone training was effective in improving knowledge and confidence for LEOs but did not significantly improve LEOs attitudes towards naloxone across most departments. The web-based format is readily scalable and quickly disseminated and meets the immediate need for LEO overdose training. Additional intervention is needed to address the negative attitudes of LEOs regarding naloxone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin Hwa Dahlem
- Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls Rd Rm 3174, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Rohan Patil
- Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls Rd Rm 3174, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Lara Khadr
- Applied Biostatistics Laboratory, Ann Arbor, USA
| | | | - Carol J Boyd
- Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls Rd Rm 3174, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Clayton J Shuman
- Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls Rd Rm 3174, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of System Populations and Leadership, Ann Arbor, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
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Abstract
BackgroundFatal opioid overdoses continue to break historical records. Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) can negatively impact treatment access, retention, and recovery. Attitudes and beliefs of police officers can profoundly shape key discretionary decisions. Therefore, we examined police officer views indicating stigma toward those with OUD.ObjectivesWe administered an online survey to select Illinois police departments using a stratified random sampling strategy with a final sample of 248 officers from 27 police departments. We asked officers questions measuring stigmatizing attitudes toward people with OUD including distrust, blame, shame, and fear. We found officers held somewhat stigmatizing views with a mean score of 4.0 on a scale of 1 (least stigmatic) to 6 (most stigmatic).ResultsRegression results showed certain officer characteristics were associated with more stigmatizing attitudes of blaming and distrust of those with OUD, including gender, education, race, years in policing, and department size.Conclusions/ImportanceSince most officers in the sample held at least some stigmatizing views toward people with OUD, this may impede the feasibility and acceptability of criminal justice interventions meant to improve behavioral health, such as police deflection programs that link people who use drugs to treatment in lieu of arrest. Departments should offer officer training and education on substance use disorders, treatment for addiction, and the potential for a person's recovery. Training should allow officers to hear directly from, or learn about, personal experiences of people who use drugs and have been in recovery, as this type of interaction has been shown to reduce stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Reichert
- Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Brandon del Pozo
- Division of General Internal Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- The Miriam Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Bruce Taylor
- NORC at the University of Chicago, Public Health Department, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Reichert J, Adams S, Taylor J, del Pozo B. Guiding officers to deflect citizens to treatment: an examination of police department policies in Illinois. HEALTH & JUSTICE 2023; 11:7. [PMID: 36750519 PMCID: PMC9906953 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-023-00207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The U.S. overdose crisis has motivated police departments to enact policies allowing officers to directly deflect individuals to substance use disorder treatment and other services shown to reduce recidivism and subsequent overdose risk, as well as refer people who voluntarily present at police facilities with a desire for treatment. As a new way of operating, and one that relies on an officer's use of discretion for successful implementation, the practice benefits from guidance through written directives, training, and supervisory support. However, there is little information on the establishment, content, and execution of police department deflection policies, which hampers the implementation and dissemination of this promising practice. We analyzed 16 policies of Illinois police department deflection programs. Using content analysis methodology, we coded the policies for language and terminology, as well as program components and procedures. We aimed to examine how the policies were written, as well as the content intending to guide officers in their work. RESULTS We found the policies and programs had notable differences in length, detail, terminology, and reading level. Only one policy mentioned the use of any type of addiction treatment medication, many used stigmatizing language (e.g., "abuse" and "addict"), and few mentioned "harm reduction" or training in the practice of deflection. Many policies restricted participation in deflection (i.e., no minors, outstanding warrants, current withdrawal symptoms), and critically, a majority of policies allowed police officers to exclude people from participation based on their own judgment. CONCLUSIONS We recommend police departments consider the readability of their policies and reduce barriers to deflection program participation to engage a larger pool of citizens in need of substance use disorder treatment. Since there is limited research on police policies generally, and the field of deflection is relatively new, this study offers insight into the content of different department policies and more specifically, how officers are directed to operate deflection programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Reichert
- Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 60 E. Van Buren St., Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60605 USA
| | - Sharyn Adams
- Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 60 E. Van Buren St., Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60605 USA
| | - Jirka Taylor
- RAND Corporation, 1200 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA 22202 USA
| | - Brandon del Pozo
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903 USA
- Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, 02903 Providence, USA
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Metcalf SA, Saunders EC, Moore SK, Walsh O, Meier A, Auty S, Bessen SY, Marsch LA. Compassion, stigma, and professionalism among emergency personnel responding to the opioid crisis: An exploratory study in New Hampshire, USA. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12641. [PMID: 35059691 PMCID: PMC8758975 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death in the United States for those under 50 years of age, and New Hampshire has been disproportionately affected, resulting in increased encounters with the emergency response system. The ensuing impact on emergency personnel has received little attention. The present study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of emergency personnel responding to the opioid crisis in NH, with a focus on their views toward people who use opioids. METHODS Thirty-six emergency personnel (emergency department clinicians, n = 18; emergency medical service providers, n = 6; firefighters, n = 6; and police officers, n = 6) in 6 New Hampshire counties were interviewed about their experiences responding to overdoses and their perspectives on individuals who use opioids. Directed content analysis was used to identify themes in the transcribed, semistructured interviews. The results were reviewed for consensus. RESULTS Several categories of themes were identified among emergency personnel's accounts of their overdose response experiences and perspectives, including varied degrees of compassion and stigma toward people who use opioids; associations between compassion or stigma and policy- and practice-related themes, such as prehospital emergency care and the role of emergency departments (EDs); and primarily among personnel expressing compassion, a sense of professional responsibility that outweighed personal biases. CONCLUSIONS Despite the magnitude of the ongoing opioid crisis, some emergency personnel in New Hampshire have sustained or increased their compassion for people who use opioids. Others' perspectives remain or have become increasingly stigmatizing. The associations of compassion and stigma with various policy- and practice-related themes warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Metcalf
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Elizabeth C. Saunders
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
| | - Sarah K. Moore
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
| | - Olivia Walsh
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Mandel School of Applied Social SciencesCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Andrea Meier
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
| | - Samantha Auty
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sarah Y. Bessen
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeHanoverNew HampshireUSA
- Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Lisa A. Marsch
- Center for Technology and Behavioral HealthGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth CollegeLebanonNew HampshireUSA
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Tori ME, Cummins E, Beletsky L, Schoenberger SF, Lambert AM, Yan S, Carroll JJ, Formica SW, Green TC, Apsler R, Xuan Z, Walley AY. Warrant checking practices by post-overdose outreach programs in Massachusetts: A mixed-methods study. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 100:103483. [PMID: 34700251 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-overdose outreach programs engage survivors in harm reduction and treatment to prevent future overdoses. In Massachusetts, these emerging programs commonly deploy teams comprised of police and public health professionals based on 911 call information. Some teams use name/address data to conduct arrest warrant checks prior to outreach visits. We used mixed methods to understand approaches to outreach related to warrant checking, from the perspectives of police and public health outreach agencies and staff. METHODS We analyzed a 2019 statewide survey of post-overdose outreach programs in Massachusetts to classify approaches to warrant checking and identify program and community factors associated with particular approaches. Ethnographic analysis of qualitative interviews conducted with outreach staff helped further contextualize outreach program practices related to warrants. RESULTS A majority (57% - 79/138) of post-overdose outreach programs in Massachusetts conducted warrant checks prior to outreach. Among programs that checked warrants, we formulated a taxonomy of approaches to handling warrants: 1) performing outreach without addressing warrants (19.6% - 27/138), 2) delaying outreach until warrants are cleared (15.9% - 22/138), 3) arresting the survivor (11/138 - 8.0%), 4) taking a situational approach (10/138 - 7.2%), 5) not performing outreach (9/138 - 6.5%). Program characteristics and staff training did not vary across approaches. From police and public health outreach staff interviews (n = 38), we elicited four major themes: a) diverse motivations precede warrant checking, b) police officers feel tension between dual roles, c) warrants alter approaches to outreach, and d) teams leverage warrants in relationships. Findings from both analyses converged to demonstrate unintended consequences of warrant checking. CONCLUSION Checking warrants prior to post-overdose outreach visits can result in arrest, delayed outreach, and barriers to obtaining services for overdose survivors, which can undermine the goal of these programs to engage overdose survivors. With the public health imperative of engaging overdose survivors, programs should consider limiting warrant checking and police participation in field activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco E Tori
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Emily Cummins
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Leo Beletsky
- Northeastern University School of Law and Bouvé College of Health Sciences, 416 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University, 416 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Samantha F Schoenberger
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Audrey M Lambert
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Shapei Yan
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Jennifer J Carroll
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, North Carolina State University, 10 Current Drive, Raleigh, NC 27605, United States; Department of Medicine, Brown University 222 Richmond St. Providence, RI 02903, United States
| | - Scott W Formica
- Social Science Research and Evaluation, Inc., 21-C Cambridge St., Burlington, MA 01803, United States
| | - Traci C Green
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, Institute for Behavioral Health, 415 South Street MS 035, Waltham, MA 02453, United States
| | - Robert Apsler
- Social Science Research and Evaluation, Inc., 21-C Cambridge St., Burlington, MA 01803, United States
| | - Ziming Xuan
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, Crosstown Building - CT 454, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Alexander Y Walley
- Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
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Kruis NE, McLean K, Perry P. Exploring first responders' perceptions of medication for addiction treatment: Does stigma influence attitudes? J Subst Abuse Treat 2021; 131:108485. [PMID: 34098289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have suggested that provider-based stigma of persons who suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD) in the criminal justice system serves as a barrier to fully implementing harm reduction strategies, such as the use of naloxone and medication for addiction treatment (MAT). While scholars have begun to explore the relationships between stigma and first responders' attitudes toward naloxone, little work has been done to assess first responders' attitudes toward other forms of harm reduction, including MAT. The goal of the current exploratory study was to help fill this gap in the literature by assessing first responders' (N = 282) attitudes toward MAT, as well as the correlates of these attitudes. The study specifically focused on examining the relationship between provider-based stigma and attitudes toward MAT. Results show that, in the aggregate, first responders held slightly negative attitudes toward the use of MAT. Moreover, the study found that certain dimensions of stigma (i.e., dangerousness and fatalism) to exhibit a negative relationship with attitudes toward MAT, while support for the disease model of addiction was associated with positive perceptions. Policy implications based on these findings are discussed within.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan E Kruis
- Department of Criminal Justice, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Park, Cypress Building, Room 101E, Altoona, PA 16601, USA.
| | - Katherine McLean
- Department of Criminal Justice, Penn State Greater Allegheny, 4000 University Drive, Main Building 109C, McKeesport, PA 15132, USA.
| | - Payton Perry
- Department of Criminal Justice, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Park, Cypress Building, Room 101E, Altoona, PA 16601, USA.
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