An Initial evaluation of law enforcement overdose training in Rhode Island

Cory D Saucier; Nickolas Zaller; Alexandria Macmadu; Traci C Green

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.03.011

An Initial evaluation of law enforcement overdose training in Rhode Island

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 May 1:162:211-8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.03.011. Epub 2016 Mar 19.

Authors

Cory D Saucier¹, Nickolas Zaller², Alexandria Macmadu³, Traci C Green⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 55 Claverick St. 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02903, United States; The School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
² University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, AR, United States.
³ The School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 55 Claverick St. 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02903, United States; The School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 27020323
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.03.011

Abstract

Objectives: To assess initial change in knowledge, self-efficacy, and anticipated behaviors among Rhode Island law enforcement officers on drug overdose response and prevention.

Methods: Law enforcement officers (N=316) voluntarily completed a pre-post evaluation immediately before and after taking part in overdose prevention and response trainings. Assessment items included measures of knowledge (Brief Overdose Recognition and Response Assessment (BORRA)), self-efficacy, attitudes toward drugs and overdose prevention, awareness of the Good Samaritan Law, and open-ended items pertaining to overdose knowledge and response behaviors. Non-parametric tests measured within-group and between-group differences. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests evaluated changes in BORRA scores and self-efficacy items. McNemar's tests assessed changes regarding the Good Samaritan law and open-ended items. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests measured post-training change in attitudes.

Results: Law enforcement officers demonstrated statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy (identifying signs of opioid overdose, naloxone indication, counseling witnesses in overdose prevention, and referring witnesses for more information), overdose identification knowledge (BORRA mean increased from 7.00 to 10.39), naloxone administration knowledge (BORRA mean increased from 10.15 to 12.59), Good Samaritan Law awareness (17.9% increase after training), and anticipated behaviors in response to future observed overdose (65.7% changed from passive to active response post training).

Conclusions: Harm reduction programs can provide law enforcement officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to intervene and reduce overdose mortality. Given the statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy, attitudinal changes, and Good Samaritan law awareness, law enforcement officers are more prepared to actively interact with drug users during a drug-involved emergency.

Keywords: First responders; Law enforcement; Naloxone; Opioids; Overdose.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
Drug Overdose / prevention & control
Drug Overdose / psychology*
Drug Users
Education / methods*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Naloxone / therapeutic use
Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
Police / education*
Police / psychology
Program Evaluation*
Rhode Island
Self Efficacy
Young Adult

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid
Narcotic Antagonists
Naloxone