Police Perceptions of Overdose Outreach Program Effectiveness

As the number of fatal opioid overdoses rose exponentially, police departments began to realize that traditional, crime control, methods were not working to decrease overdoses. In response, many departments shifted toward a service-centered model of policing, involving overdose outreach visits to encourage treatment to individuals either at-risk of overdosing or having recently experienced a non-fatal overdose. While these programs are increasing, there is little research regarding how police perceive the effectiveness of these programs. Through a survey of officers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, this study examines the attitudes police officers hold toward the effectiveness of overdose outreach programs as well as explores which variables serve as significant predictors for these attitudes. Findings show that a large cross-section of officers view overdose outreach programs as effective. Moreover, following multivariate analysis, twelve variables emerged as significant predictors of program effectiveness. Results can be used to inform both theory and practice