Police officers’ perceptions of their role at overdose events: a qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction

The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, a federal law enacted in Canada in 2017, aims to increase bystander response to overdoses by offering legal protection for arrests related to simple possession at the scene of an overdose. As this legislation suggests, a shift has occurred to view overdose events as a medical issue, constituting a shift in the role of police officers. Our study aimed to uncover the role police perceive for themselves at overdose events.

Methods

Twenty-two qualitative interviews were conducted with police officers across British Columbia (BC). A thematic analysis was completed to identify patterns in the data.

Findings

Police officers perceived their primary role was to ensure the safety of first responders and bystanders at overdose events. Some officers favored enforcing mandatory treatment and used coercive practices to ensure overdose victims received further medical care.

Discussion

Policies which reframe overdose events in terms of a health rather than criminal response put into question whether police officers have a role at overdose events and, if so, what it is.

Conclusions

Education and awareness are needed to reduce stigma towards people who use drugs, misunderstandings around naloxone and harmful practices such as coercion, at overdose events.

Keywords:

• Police officers
• first responders
• drug overdose response
• coercive treatment
• Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank participating police officers and police departments as well as Laurel White for her role in data collection. The authors respectfully acknowledge that they live and work on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the traditional territories of xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxw̱u7mesh (Squamish), and Səli̓əlwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the BC Ministry of Health. The funders had no role in the study analysis or preparation of the manuscript. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.