Title : Police officer stigma and discretion in encounters with people with opioid use disorder: Findings from an Illinois survey
Abstract:
Background: Police officers frequently encounter people with opioid use disorder (OUD), but their attitudes and behaviors in these interactions can significantly impact outcomes. This study examined Illinois police officers' stigma towards people with OUD, use of discretion, and views on treatment and harm reduction.
Methods: An online survey was conducted in 2021 with a stratified random sample of 248 Illinois police officers from 27 departments. The survey included items measuring stigma, discretion in encounters, and knowledge/attitudes about substance use treatment and harm reduction.
Results: A majority of officers held stigmatizing views towards people with OUD, including distrust (92% felt the need to be on guard) and blame (most felt people with OUD were responsible for their condition). Officers' discretion was heavily influenced by supervisor expectations (over 75%). While most officers endorsed treatment referrals, many held inaccurate views about medications for OUD and harm reduction strategies. Higher stigma did not predict lower support for deflection programs, but fear of people who use drugs reduced support for addressing addiction through treatment and other opportunities.
Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for comprehensive training for all officers to reduce stigma, correct misconceptions about treatment and harm reduction, and promote evidence-based responses to people with OUD. Supervisors should champion treatment referrals, and collaborations between police and treatment providers should be strengthened. Addressing officers' fear of people who use drugs may be particularly important for increasing support of alternatives to arrest.
