Evidence‐Based Human Trafficking Policy: Opportunities to Invest in Trauma‐Informed Strategies

Scott, Taylor; Ingram, Alexandra; Nemer, Shannon L.; Crowley, D. Max

doi:10.1002/ajcp.12394

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, one inconsistency is that legislation using analysis words was significantly more likely to pass out of committee in the present study, but not in the one conducted by Scott and colleagues [49]. One possible explanation for this is that research on human trafficking is more nascent than SU/SUD research.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

How substance use prevention research gets used in United States federal policy

et al. 2022

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Background and Aims: The growing body of research evidence on substance use and substance use disorder (SU/SUD) prevention could be leveraged to strengthen the intended impact of policies that address SU/SUD. The aim of the present study was to explore how research was used in United States federal legislation that emphasized SU/SUD prevention.Design: Using a mixed-methods approach, we assessed whether the use of research predicted a bill's legislative progress. We randomly sampled 10 bills that represented different types of research keywords to examine how research was used in these bills, applying content analysis.Setting: United States Congress.Participants/Cases: Federal legislation introduced between the 101st and the 114thCongresses (1989-2017; n = 1866). Measurements:The quantitative outcome measures were bills' likelihood of passing out of committee and being enacted. Qualitative outcomes included the ways research was used in legislation.Findings: Bills that used any research language were 2.2 times more likely to pass out of committee (OR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.75, 2.72) and 82% more likely to be enacted (OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.23, 2.69) than bills not using research language. Bills using dissemination words were 57% more likely to pass out of committee (OR = 1.57; CI, 1.08, 2.28) and analysis words were 93% more likely (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.51, 2.47) than bills not using dissemination or analysis words. Research was used to (i) define the problem to justify legislative action, (ii) address the problem by providing funding, and (iii) address the problem through industry regulations. However, there was a lack of research use that targets underlying risk and protective factors.Conclusions: In the US Congress, substance use and substance use disorder prevention bills that use research language appear to be more likely to progress in the legislative cycle than bills that do not, suggesting that legislation using research may be viewed as more credible.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

How substance use prevention research gets used in United States federal policy

et al. 2022

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“…On one hand, there is modest or better evidence supporting many of the provisions coded in our analysis as aligned with at least one trauma-informed principle, such as peer support (Bassuk, Hanson, Greene, Richard, & Laudet, 2016) and community distribution of naloxone to prevent fatal overdose (Clark, Wilder, & Winstanley, 2014). However, as “trauma-informed” is not synonymous with “evidence-based” (Scott et al, 2019), some trauma-informed provisions may not be supported by evidence, and some provisions that are evidence-based may not be trauma-informed. The extent to which trauma-informed policy provisions are associated with outcomes of interest, such as preventing opioid misuse, preventing overdose, and increasing sustained recovery from opioid addiction, remains a critical area for further research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Purtle and Lewis (2017) reviewed federal legislation containing the term trauma-informed (or trauma informed ), finding that only 49 bills introduced between 1973 and 2015 included this term, the majority of which exclusively addressed youth as a target population. A study on human trafficking policy found that legislation integrating research evidence presented an avenue for advancing trauma-informed practices on this topic (Scott, Ingram, Nemer, & Crowley, 2019). Other studies have focused on legislation addressing PTSD, exploring the legislative construction of this disorder (Purtle, 2016) and characteristics of bills addressing it (Purtle, 2014).…”

Section: The Opioid Epidemic and Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma and principles of trauma-informed care in the U.S. federal legislative response to the opioid epidemic: A policy mapping analysis.

Bowen¹,

Irish²

2022

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: The U.S. declared the opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency in 2017. Given the strong and bidirectional relationship between trauma and substance misuse, policy responses to this crisis that reflect principles of trauma-informed care are especially salient. This study is the first to use trauma-informed policy analysis to systematically assess the U.S. Congressional response to the opioid epidemic. Method: We used policy mapping methods to build and analyze a dataset of all opioid-related bills and resolutions proposed in Congress between 2009 and 2017 (N ϭ 188). Following an established trauma-informed policy analysis framework, 2 researchers reviewed these policies and coded their incorporation of trauma-specific language and the principles of safety; choice; trust and transparency; collaboration and peer support; empowerment; and intersectionality. We calculated coding frequencies in these categories and rates of intercoder agreement. Results: A minority of policies (10.6%) directly mentioned trauma and 55% of policies incorporated at least 1 trauma-informed principle. Safety was the most commonly coded principle (38.3%), while intersectionality was the least (6.9%). Conclusions: Our analysis found limited attention to trauma in opioid-related federal legislation. Based on these findings and following the example of coalitions such as the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, advocates can mobilize for better inclusion of trauma-informed principles in opioid policy. Further, this study demonstrates the feasibility of applying the trauma-informed policy analysis framework to code Congressional policies using publicly available data, a replicable methodology with potential application at federal and state levels. Clinical Impact StatementGiven that psychological trauma is often linked with substance misuse, this study investigated the extent to which U.S. federal legislation responding to the recent opioid crisis was trauma-informed. Approximately 11% of opioid-related bills or resolutions introduced in Congress between 2009 and 2017 mentioned the term "trauma" and 55% were aligned with at least one principle of trauma-informed care, such as safety, choice, or empowerment. Stakeholders can use these findings as a basis for advocating for continued inclusion and expansion of trauma-informed principles in opioid policy in particular contexts, such as addressing pathways between incarceration, trauma, and opioid misuse.

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“…53 Finally, research focused on comparing various types of telemental health delivery methods (eg, telephone, video, text) in improving dissemination and implementation of evidence-based services for human trafficking populations is critical. Consistent with trauma-informed care models, 51,52,54 patient preferences for telehealth versus in-person treatment should be elicited first. If telehealth is selected, then mode of delivery should be determined, as it is essential to provide choice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various considerations encapsulate the provision of telemental health services to populations experiencing trafficking, particularly with regard to risk management; extant guidelines can be referenced and adapted, as necessary, to the individual’s unique circumstances while upholding federal, state, and local (eg, clinic, hospital) policies. 48,51,52 In addition, mental health provider fatigue is a pertinent issue for clinical risk management and burnout prevention, especially for providers who might exclusively work in telemental health spaces independently and/or without substantive in-person contact with patients or colleagues.…”

Section: Challenges To Use Of Telemental Health Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%