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Siddiqui ST, La Manna A, Connors E, Smith R, Vance K, Budesa Z, Goulka J, Beletsky L, Wood CA, Marotta P, Winograd RP. An evaluation of first responders' intention to refer to post-overdose services following SHIELD training. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:39. [PMID: 38351046 PMCID: PMC10863209 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00957-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND First responders [law enforcement officers (LEO) and Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS)] can play a vital prevention role, connecting overdose survivors to treatment and recovery services. This study was conducted to examine the effect of occupational safety and harm reduction training on first responders' intention to refer overdose survivors to treatment, syringe service, naloxone distribution, social support, and care-coordination services, and whether those intentions differed by first responder profession. METHODS First responders in Missouri were trained using the Safety and Health Integration in the Enforcement of Laws on Drugs (SHIELD) model. Trainees' intent to refer (ITR) overdose survivors to prevention and supportive services was assessed pre- and post-training (1-5 scale). A mixed model analysis was conducted to assess change in mean ITR scores between pre- and post-training, and between profession type, while adjusting for random effects between individual trainees and baseline characteristics. RESULTS Between December 2020 and January 2023, 742 first responders completed pre- and post-training surveys. SHIELD training was associated with higher first responders' intentions to refer, with ITR to naloxone distribution (1.83-3.88) and syringe exchange (1.73-3.69) demonstrating the greatest changes, and drug treatment (2.94-3.95) having the least change. There was a significant increase in ITR score from pre- to post-test (β = 2.15; 95% CI 1.99, 2.30), and LEO-relative to Fire/EMS-had a higher score at pre-test (0.509; 95% CI 0.367, 0.651) but a lower score at post-test (0.148; 95% CI - 0.004, 0.300). CONCLUSION Training bundling occupational safety with harm reduction content is immediately effective at increasing first responders' intention to connect overdose survivors to community substance use services. When provided with the rationale and instruction to execute referrals, first responders are amenable, and their positive response highlights the opportunity for growth in increasing referral partnerships and collaborations. Further research is necessary to assess the extent to which ITR translates to referral behavior in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad T Siddiqui
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA.
| | - Anna La Manna
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Elizabeth Connors
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Ryan Smith
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Kyle Vance
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Zach Budesa
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Jeremiah Goulka
- SHIELD Training Initiative, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Leo Beletsky
- SHIELD Training Initiative, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Claire A Wood
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Phillip Marotta
- Department of Social Work, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Rachel P Winograd
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, 206 Benton Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
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Del Pozo B, Sightes E, Goulka J, Ray B, Wood CA, Siddiqui S, Beletsky LA. Police discretion in encounters with people who use drugs: operationalizing the theory of planned behavior. Harm Reduct J 2021; 18:132. [PMID: 34915910 PMCID: PMC8675297 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-021-00583-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Policing shapes the health risks of people who use drugs (PWUD), but little is understood about interventions that can align officer practices with PWUD health. This study deploys the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to understand what influences police intentions to make discretionary referrals to treatment and harm reduction resources rather than arrest on less serious charges.
Methods On-line surveys integrating TPB constructs and adapting an instrument measuring police intentions to make mental health treatment referrals were completed by police employees in Indiana, Massachusetts, and Missouri. They also included items about stigma towards PWUD and attitudes and beliefs about opioid addiction, treatment, and recovery. Findings Across the sites, 259 respondents perceived control over their decision to arrest for misdemeanors (69%) and confiscate items such as syringes (56%). Beliefs about others’ approval of referrals to treatment, its ability to reduce future arrests, and to increase trust in police were associated with stated practices of nonarrest for drug and possession and making referrals (p ≤ .001), and nonarrest for syringe possession (p ≤ .05). Stigma a towards PWUD was negatively associated with stated practices of nonarrest (p ≤ .05). Respondents identified supervisors as having the most influence over use of discretion, seriousness of the offense as the most influential value, and attitude of the suspect as the most important situational factor. The 17 Likert scale items analyzed had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81. Conclusion The TPB offers untapped potential to better understand and modify police practices. In designing interventions to improve the health outcomes of police encounters with PWUD, further research should validate instruments that measure the relationship between these variables and discretionary intentions, and that measure role-relevant police stigma towards PWUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Del Pozo
- The Miriam Hospital/Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
| | - Emily Sightes
- Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
| | - Jeremiah Goulka
- Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Brad Ray
- Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
| | - Claire A Wood
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri St Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Saad Siddiqui
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri St Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Leo A Beletsky
- School of Law and Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
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Del Pozo B, Sightes E, Kang S, Goulka J, Ray B, Beletsky LA. Can touch this: training to correct police officer beliefs about overdose from incidental contact with fentanyl. Health Justice 2021; 9:34. [PMID: 34817717 PMCID: PMC8612110 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-021-00163-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Misinformation about overdose risk from accidentally inhaling or touching fentanyl is widespread among police in the United States. This may aggravate already elevated burdens of officer stress and burnout, while chilling lifesaving overdose response. Police education has shown promise in reducing false beliefs about fentanyl. To better understand the potential of training interventions in correcting officer knowledge, we administered a 10-min online training with corrective messaging about occupational overdose risk from fentanyl contact to 204 police officers in Indiana. Overall, 129 officers (63%) completed baseline survey and 69 (34%) completed follow-up instrument. Using a 6-point Likert scale, we documented assent with the statement: "First responders who encounter fentanyl are at great risk of overdose by touching it or inhaling it." At baseline, 79.8% expressed agreement, while 20.2% disagreed. At follow-up, 39.1% agreed, while 60.9% disagreed (p < .001). Baseline responses varied in that those officers without a college degree and those on patrol were more likely to report false beliefs. A brief online training intervention holds promise for correcting false beliefs about the risk of fentanyl overdose under circumstances commonly encountered by police.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Del Pozo
- The Miriam Hospital/Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
| | - Emily Sightes
- Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, Wayne State University School of Social Work, Detroit, USA
| | - Sunyou Kang
- Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, USA
| | - Jeremiah Goulka
- Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, USA
| | - Bradley Ray
- Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, Wayne State University School of Social Work, Detroit, USA
| | - Leo A Beletsky
- Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, USA
- Northeastern University Bouve College of Health Sciences, Boston, USA
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon Del Pozo
- The Miriam Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Providence, RI, USA.,The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Leo Beletsky
- Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, MA, USA
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Winograd RP, Phillips S, Wood CA, Green L, Costerison B, Goulka J, Beletsky L. Training to reduce emergency responders' perceived overdose risk from contact with fentanyl: early evidence of success. Harm Reduct J 2020; 17:58. [PMID: 32831088 PMCID: PMC7443848 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00402-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel P Winograd
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
| | - Sarah Phillips
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Claire A Wood
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lauren Green
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | | | - Leo Beletsky
- Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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