Evaluating the Role of Police Responding to Community Substance Use: A Review of the Literature

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Drug use in the United States is largely criminalized. Because of this, people who use drugs (PWUD) have frequent encounters with law enforcement and are often isolated from opportunities to seek treatment. Beyond this, research also shows that interactions with police may generate shame among PWUD due to the stigma towards justice-involved individuals. Encounters with police or the criminal-legal system can even result in higher rates of substance use, and higher risks of overdose are associated with people upon release from incarceration. This poster presents a systematic review of the current literature on law enforcement and PWUD to elucidate the barriers this dynamic may create in receiving equitable and dignified treatment.

Authors

• Nicholas Lozano, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

• Katheryne Pugliese, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Catherine Strange, Montclair State University / Drexel University

• Sheetal Ranjan, Montclair State University

• Naomi Nguyen, Montclair State University