title: Qualitative assessment of take-home naloxone program participant and law enforcement interactions in British Columbia.
abstract: The British Columbia take-home naloxone (BCTHN) program has been in operation since 2012 and has resulted in the successful reversal of over 581 opioid overdoses. The study aims to explore BCTHN program participant perspectives about the program, barriers to participants contacting emergency services (calling "911") during an overdose, and perspectives of law enforcement officials on naloxone administration by police officers.
  
  
  
  Two focus groups and four individual interviews were conducted with BCTHN program participants; interviews with two law enforcement officials were also conducted. Qualitative analysis of all transcripts was performed.
  
  
  
  Positive themes about the BCTHN program from participants included easy to understand training, correcting misperceptions in the community, and positive interactions with emergency services. Potential barriers to contacting emergency services during an overdose include concerns about being arrested for outstanding warrants or for other illegal activities (such as drug possession) and confiscation of kits. Law enforcement officials noted that warrants were complex situational issues, kits would normally not be confiscated, and admitted arrests for drug possession or other activities may not serve the public good in an overdose situation. Law enforcement officials were concerned about legal liability and jurisdictional/authorization issues if naloxone administration privileges were expanded to police.
  
  
  
  Program participants and law enforcement officials expressed differing perspectives about warrants, kit confiscation, and arrests. Facilitating communication between BCTHN program participants and other stakeholders may address some of the confusion and remove potential barriers to further improving program outcomes. Naloxone administration by law enforcement would require policies to address jurisdiction/authorization and liability issues.
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deonarine
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amlani
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.|BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. jane.buxton@bccdc.ca.|BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada. jane.buxton@bccdc.ca.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Buxton
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001955:British Columbia; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016495:Police
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone
keywords: British Columbia; Canada; Law enforcement; Naloxone; Take-home naloxone