Naloxone user attitudes toward law enforcement involvement in overdose cases

• In Event: Research on Different Types of Drugs

Abstract

Community-based naloxone distribution programs have proven to be successful in increasing the survival rate of overdose victims. Extant research focuses on law enforcement and first responders’ attitudes toward naloxone use. However, subject attitudes towards law enforcement in opioid overdose occurrences have yet to be adequately examined. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between subjects’ perception toward law enforcement and naloxone use/distribution from a community-based health organization in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles County in 2015.

Interviews/self-reporting instruments examined fear of contacting police as measured by several items: items of interest were related to whether an ambulance and/or police responded to a 9-1-1 call, whether someone was arrested at the scene after calling 9-1-1, and whether fear of arrest was a determinant of calling 9-1-1 for someone overdosing.

Descriptive and bivariate analyses are conducted to examine demographic, setting, and type of drug used associations with attitudes toward police contact. Significant relationships between subject characteristics, overdose location, and subjects’ perception of contacting law enforcement in opioid overdose occurrences will be examined in an exploratory fashion.

Authors

• Jared C. Durieux, Kent State University

• Melissa Mirka, Kent State University

• Eric Jefferis, Kent State University

• Andrew Curtis, Kent State University

• Chaz Felix, University of Southern California / Los Angeles County Department of Public Health