Two-year outcomes following naloxone administration by police officers or emergency medical services personnel

Research We conducted a retrospective, quasi-experimental study of a police naloxone program to examine individual outcomes following nonfatal overdose where either police (n = 111) or emergency medical services (n = 1,229) provided a first response and administered naloxone. Individuals who receive...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lowder, Evan Marie (Author)
Contributors: Lawson, Spencer G. ; O'Donnell, Daniel ; Ray, Bradley R. ; Sightes, Emily
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: Criminology & public policy
Year: 2020, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, Pages: 1019-1040
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:Research We conducted a retrospective, quasi-experimental study of a police naloxone program to examine individual outcomes following nonfatal overdose where either police (n = 111) or emergency medical services (n = 1,229) provided a first response and administered naloxone. Individuals who received a police response were more likely to be arrested immediately following initial dispatch and had more instances of repeat nonfatal overdose two years following dispatch; there were no differences in rearrest or death rates. Findings suggest police naloxone programs may increase short-term incarceration risk, but we found little evidence overall of long-term adverse effects. Policy Implications Naloxone is a tool to reduce fatal opioid-involved overdose. Its provision alone does not constitute a comprehensive agency response to the opioid epidemic. Findings support the need for standardized policies and procedures to guide emergency responses to nonfatal overdose events and ensure consistency across agencies.
ISSN:1745-9133
DOI:10.1111/1745-9133.12509