Melissa Davoust1, Valerie Grim2, Allie Hunter3, David K Jones2, David Rosenbloom2, Michael D Stein2, Mari-Lynn Drainoni4. 1. Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: mdavoust@bu.edu. 2. Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States. 3. The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, Boston, MA, United States. 4. Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In response to the dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths in recent years, police departments and community partners across the United States have begun to implement programs focused on connecting individuals to substance use disorder services. We examined the implementation of police-assisted referral programs from the perspectives of different team members to understand the key components of these programs and strategies used to implement them. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to examine the implementation of police-assisted referral programs in five Massachusetts communities between June 2019 and March 2020. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 33 individuals, including 5 police chiefs, 12 police officers, 6 outreach workers, 4 community-based organization (CBO) directors, 2 interns, 1 clinician, 1 program manager, 1 religious representative, and 1 prevention specialist. RESULTS: Five key themes emerged regarding the implementation of police-assisted referral programs across the communities: 1) program development was an ongoing process; 2) partnerships between police departments and community stakeholders were essential for starting and sustaining a program; 3) high-level leadership influenced program priorities and facilitated implementation; 4) program success was defined in multiple ways; and 5) programs contributed to shifts in beliefs about substance use and addiction among police officers. CONCLUSIONS: Police-assisted referral programs in Massachusetts have adopted a variety of models of service delivery, evolving from post-overdose outreach and walk-in models to more complex hybrid forms. Implementation was facilitated by the support of departmental leadership, particularly the police chief, and the development of key partnerships across institutional boundaries. Communities continue to develop their programs to incorporate additional components, such as new mechanisms of outreach, harm reduction services, and long-term engagement activities. Further evaluation of these programs is needed to understand how each of these unique components may influence a program's impact on future overdoses, entry to treatment, and long-term recovery.
BACKGROUND: In response to the dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths in recent years, police departments and community partners across the United States have begun to implement programs focused on connecting individuals to substance use disorder services. We examined the implementation of police-assisted referral programs from the perspectives of different team members to understand the key components of these programs and strategies used to implement them. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to examine the implementation of police-assisted referral programs in five Massachusetts communities between June 2019 and March 2020. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 33 individuals, including 5 police chiefs, 12 police officers, 6 outreach workers, 4 community-based organization (CBO) directors, 2 interns, 1 clinician, 1 program manager, 1 religious representative, and 1 prevention specialist. RESULTS: Five key themes emerged regarding the implementation of police-assisted referral programs across the communities: 1) program development was an ongoing process; 2) partnerships between police departments and community stakeholders were essential for starting and sustaining a program; 3) high-level leadership influenced program priorities and facilitated implementation; 4) program success was defined in multiple ways; and 5) programs contributed to shifts in beliefs about substance use and addiction among police officers. CONCLUSIONS: Police-assisted referral programs in Massachusetts have adopted a variety of models of service delivery, evolving from post-overdose outreach and walk-in models to more complex hybrid forms. Implementation was facilitated by the support of departmental leadership, particularly the police chief, and the development of key partnerships across institutional boundaries. Communities continue to develop their programs to incorporate additional components, such as new mechanisms of outreach, harm reduction services, and long-term engagement activities. Further evaluation of these programs is needed to understand how each of these unique components may influence a program's impact on future overdoses, entry to treatment, and long-term recovery.
Authors: Graham Moore; Linda Cambon; Susan Michie; Pierre Arwidson; Grégory Ninot; Christine Ferron; Louise Potvin; Nadir Kellou; Julie Charlesworth; François Alla Journal: Trials Date: 2019-06-11 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Mari-Lynn Drainoni; Hannah K Knudsen; Kathy Adams; Shaquita A Andrews-Higgins; Vanessa Auritt; Sandi Back; Laura K Barkowski; Evan J Batty; Melika R Behrooz; Sydney Bell; Sadie Chen; Mia-Cara Christopher; Nicolette Coovert; Erika L Crable; Anindita Dasgupta; Michael Goetz; Dawn Goddard-Eckrich; Jeanie L Hartman; Holly Heffer; Pulwasha Iftikhar; Latasha Jones; Samantha Lang; Karsten Lunze; Anna Martin; Tara McCrimmon; Melissa K Reedy-Johnson; Carter Roeber; Ariel L Scalise; Cynthia J Sieck; Daniel M Walker; Galya Walt; Jennifer D Wood; Priscilla Zito; Ann Scheck McAlearney Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2022-01-31
Authors: Scott W Formica; Brittni Reilly; MaryKate Duska; Sarah C Ruiz; Peter Lagasse; Mary Wheeler; Amy Delaney; Alexander Y Walley Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2022 Nov-Dec 01