“We're actually more of a likely ally than an unlikely ally”: relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement

Harm Reduction Journal

Musheng L. Alishahi¹  Carol Y. Franco²  Ashley Brooks-Russell³  Angela E. Lee-Winn⁴  Sara Brandspigel⁵ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, East 17th Avenue, 1312180045, Aurora, CO, USA;Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA;

关键词: Syringe service programs;    Needle exchange;    Law enforcement;    Harm reduction;    Qualitative research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12954-021-00515-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSyringe services programs provide sterile injection supplies and a range of health services (e.g., HIV and HEP-C testing, overdose prevention education, provision of naloxone) to a hard-to-reach population, including people who use drugs, aiming to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.MethodsWe performed a qualitative needs assessment of existing syringe services programs in the state of Colorado in 2018–2019 to describe—their activities, needs, and barriers. Using a phenomenological approach, we performed semi-structured interviews with key program staff of syringe services programs (n = 11). All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and validated. A data-driven iterative approach was used by researchers to develop a coding scheme to organize the data into major themes found across interviews. Memos were written to synthesize main themes.ResultsNearly all the syringe program staff discussed their relationships with law enforcement at length. All syringe program staff viewed having a positive relationship with law enforcement as critical to the success of their program. Main factors that influence the quality of relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement included: (1) alignment in agency culture, (2) support from law enforcement leadership, (3) police officers’ participation and compliance with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which provides intensive case management for low-level drug offenders, and (4) implementation of the “Needle-Stick Prevention Law” and Drug Paraphernalia Law Exemption. All syringe program staff expressed a strong desire to have positive relationships with law enforcement and described how a collaborative working relationship was critical to the success of their programs.ConclusionsOur findings reveal effective strategies to foster relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement as well as key barriers to address. The need exists for both syringe services programs and law enforcement to devote time and resources to build a strong, positive partnership. Having such positive relationships with law enforcement has positive implications for syringe services program clients, including law enforcement being less likely to ticket persons for having used syringes, and encouragepeople who use drugs to seek services from syringe services programs, which can then lead them to other resources, such as housing, wound care, and substance use treatment programs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY