Law enforcement attitudes toward overdose prevention and response.
BACKGROUND
Law enforcement is often the first to respond to medical emergencies in the community, including overdose. Due to the nature of their job, officers have also witnessed first-hand the changing demographic of drug users and devastating effects on their community associated with the epidemic of nonmedical prescription opioid use in the United States. Despite this seminal role, little data exist on law enforcement attitudes toward overdose prevention and response.


METHODS
We conducted key informant interviews as part of a 12-week Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) process that aimed to better understand and prevent nonmedical prescription opioid use and overdose deaths in locations in Connecticut and Rhode Island experiencing overdose "outbreaks." Interviews with 13 law enforcement officials across three study sites were analyzed to uncover themes on overdose prevention and naloxone.


RESULTS
Findings indicated support for law enforcement involvement in overdose prevention. Hesitancy around naloxone administration by laypersons was evident. Interview themes highlighted officers' feelings of futility and frustration with their current overdose response options, the lack of accessible local drug treatment, the cycle of addiction, and the pervasiveness of easily accessible prescription opioid medications in their communities. Overdose prevention and response, which for some officers included law enforcement-administered naloxone, were viewed as components of community policing and good police-community relations.


CONCLUSIONS
Emerging trends, such as existing law enforcement medical interventions and Good Samaritan Laws, suggest the need for broader law enforcement engagement around this pressing public health crisis, even in suburban and small town locations, to promote public safety.
Rhode Island Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, 55 Claverick St.-2nd flr, Providence, RI 02903, USA; The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Electronic address: traci.c.green@gmail.com.
Traci C
TC
Green
Nickolas
N
Zaller
Wilson R
WR
Palacios
Sarah E
SE
Bowman
Madeline
M
Ray
Robert
R
Heimer
Patricia
P
Case
D001290:Attitude; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004645:Empathy; D058872:Epidemics; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000506:poisoning; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D016495:Police; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D009270:Naloxone
Law enforcement; Naloxone; Overdose; Police; Prescription opioid abuse