BackHome
Refresh: OffView Personal Schedule
Session Submission Summary

Assessing Decriminalization, Harm Reduction, and Public Health Approaches to Policing the Opioid Crisis

Fri, Nov 15, 8:00 to 9:20am, Pacific J - 4th Level

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This thematic panel will present the results of three studies that assess contemporary issues in the police response to the nation's opioid crisis. One examines the notable recent spike in overdose deaths in Oregon, and assesses the extent to which the decriminalization of illicit drug possession was--or was not--a causal factor. Another presents data from US chiefs of police about their views on an effective response to the crisis, where they see emerging threats, and what gaps exist in their ability to effectively respond, as well as their attitudes and beliefs about evidence-based interventions. A third study used a randomized, controlled survey experiment to assess whether police chiefs' support for evidence-based public health and harm reduction interventions to addiction and overdose varied based on whether the outcomes were presented to them as having public health benefits vs. public safety benefits, despite the identical nature of the proposed measures themselves.

Sub Unit

Individual Presentations

Discussant