Examining the implementation of police-assisted referral programs for substance use disorder services in Massachusetts

Davoust, Melissa; Grim, Valerie; Hunter, Allie; Jones, David K.; Rosenbloom, David; Stein, Michael D.; Drainoni, Mari-Lynn

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103142

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Following postoverdose coresponder models that have largely emerged out of police departments, 5 , 6 , 9 the POST initiative demonstrates the feasibility of embedding these programs within existing public health infrastructure (eg, health departments, health and human services agencies). A relatively unique aspect of the POST initiative is its requirement to staff outreach programs with at least 1 harm reduction specialist.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Post Overdose Support Team Initiative: A Public Health–Centered Co-Response Model for Post–Overdose Outreach

Formica

Reilly

Duska

et al. 2022

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

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Context: Post-overdose outreach programs have emerged in response to surging overdose deaths amid fentanyl contamination of the illicit opioid supply. Predominantly centered in police departments in collaboration with public health providers, these programs conduct home-based outreach with survivors and their social networks following an overdose. Approach: We describe implementation of the Post Overdose Support Team (POST) initiative, an ongoing public health funded and centered approach. Post Overdose Support Team is a person-centered model led by harm reductionists in health and human services agencies in collaboration with municipal first responders. The goal of POST is to engage overdose survivors and their social network to improve general health, connect people to services (including access to treatment, if desired), and reduce risk of subsequent overdose. Implementation: Nine agencies in Massachusetts that are part of the state's overdose education and naloxone distribution network implemented POST programs, covering 28 municipalities. The POST teams conduct home-based outreach with individuals who experienced an opioid-related overdose to provide a menu of services, including naloxone rescue kits, overdose response and risk reduction planning, referral to treatment for substance use disorders, including medication for opioid use disorder, and referral to recovery and family supports. Evaluation: From October 2017 to October 2021, the POST teams attempted to reach 5634 overdose survivors via 10 536 outreach visits. Teams successfully engaged 3014 survivors, either directly or through contact with their social network (53.5% success rate). Using data from a real-time encounter-level database, monthly peer-sharing calls with program sites, and annual site visits, we describe the implementation of the POST initiative and provide practice-based recommendations and lessons learned. Discussion: Early evidence suggests that the POST initiative is meeting its goal to engage overdose survivors, improve general health, and reduce subsequent overdose risk. Future evaluations should examine long-term outcomes among participants, including service linkages and incremental behavior change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Post Overdose Support Team Initiative: A Public Health–Centered Co-Response Model for Post–Overdose Outreach

Formica

Reilly

Duska

et al. 2022

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These ndings reinforce conclusions from previous research that demonstrates high-level leadership in police departments (such as the Chief of police) and strong community partnerships are key to facilitating public health and law enforcement partnerships addressing overdose. 34 The One2One intervention necessitated police department involvement more consistent with harm reduction principles. Like other community partner programming, departments most often reported using 'street-based outreach' to places and people at risk of fentanyl exposure and overdose to distribute FTS kits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police-led Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Program in Maine and Massachusetts: An Evaluation

Larson

Silcox

Olson

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: The increase of illicitly manufactured fentanyl in the drug supply and the lack of a reliable fentanyl detection method have led to a public health innovation: the community distribution and use of fentanyl test strips (FTS) to detect presence of fentanyl in drugs. The One2One project, based on a 2020 six-site pilot project, was a police-driven project spearheaded in Massachusetts and Maine in 2021 that consisted of police and community collaborators using FTS distribution as a low barrier tool to engage with people who use drugs and connect them to harm reduction supplies, services and referrals. Methods: Implementation and evaluation of the program occurred over 8-months. Policeofficers and program staff were trained on community use of FTS and were provided technical and logistical supports to encourage broad-scale local distribution of FTS kits to people who use drugs. The structure of the program encouraged departments to be innovative around FTS distribution and to use test strips as tools to support PWUDs with referrals, direct services and other harm reduction resources. The evaluation included site observations, interviews of staff and recipients, a community stakeholder survey, and analysis of administrative and demographic data to measure uptake and reach (engagement ratio and kit distribution impact rate) of the project as well as catalog implementation successes and challenges across participating police departments.Results: Twenty-one police departments and their collaborators distributed 2,556 FTS kits and reported a combined 3,703 referrals or direct services, yielding an engagement ratio of 1.44 (one referral or service per FTS kit distributed) and a kit distribution impact rate (kits distributed per overdose mortality rate) of 4.37 conveying substantial public health reach of FTS in high overdose burden communities. Qualitative data analysis captured the nuances across police departments of FTS kit distribution approaches, engagement methodologies, and the shift in willingness to embrace harm reduction principles through police-led efforts. Conclusion: FTS distribution through the One2One program exemplifies new and evolving shifts in public health and harm reduction policing roles and strategies. Further research should investigate how FTS distribution can be integrated across more geographies and implemented by other institutions.

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“…Specifically, within the past ten years, an increasing number of police leaders have determined that when it comes to working with those with substance use disorder, simply arresting these individuals is not always the answer. Instead, many agencies believe that those with substance use disorder are best served when offered information and referral to treatment or other social services (Davoust et al, 2021).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police Perceptions of Police-Involved Overdose Outreach Program Effectiveness

Becker

2021

Journal of Drug Issues

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This study surveys police officers from three New England states to examine the perceptions officers hold toward the effectiveness of police-involved overdose outreach programs, the variables that serve as significant predictors for perceptions of program effectiveness, and the extent to which attribution theory can explain these perceptions. The majority of officers displayed positive perceptions of program effectiveness, and eight significant predictors were identified, including attribution theory which showed significance in explaining why police officers perceive these programs as effective. As an increasing number of police departments take a service-centered approach to working with individuals with substance use disorder, police-involved overdose outreach programs are becoming more commonplace. From the results of this study, practitioners are able to identify variables that predict officers’ views of program effectiveness. Equipped with this knowledge, increasing the support of these related concepts will help to subsequently increase the likelihood of officers viewing these programs as effective.

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Examining the implementation of police-assisted referral programs for substance use disorder services in Massachusetts

Cited by 20 publications

References 13 publications

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Post Overdose Support Team Initiative: A Public Health–Centered Co-Response Model for Post–Overdose Outreach

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Post Overdose Support Team Initiative: A Public Health–Centered Co-Response Model for Post–Overdose Outreach

Police-led Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Program in Maine and Massachusetts: An Evaluation

Police Perceptions of Police-Involved Overdose Outreach Program Effectiveness

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