Are Substance Use Deflection Programs Seen as Effective?: Exploring Police Attitudes on Program Implementation.
Jullianne Regalado1, Ellen Donnelly2, Emalie Rell3
1PhD Research Assistant, Center for Drug and Health Studies, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware.
Delaware Journal of Public Health
|October 2, 2025
Summary
Police officers largely support substance use deflection programs, viewing them as effective and implementable. Key barriers include treatment access and housing issues, highlighting community-level challenges.
Area of Science:
- Law Enforcement and Public Health
- Substance Use Disorder Interventions
- Criminal Justice Research
Background:
- Substance use deflection programs aim to divert individuals with substance use disorders from the criminal justice system.
- Understanding police officers' perspectives is crucial for the successful implementation and sustainability of these programs.
- Law enforcement agencies are increasingly adopting diversion initiatives as part of their response to the substance use crisis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of police officers' beliefs in the effectiveness of substance use deflection programs.
- To identify factors influencing police officers' perceptions of these programs' success.
- To determine common barriers encountered during the implementation of deflection initiatives.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous online survey was administered to law enforcement officers in Delaware in January 2025.
- 111 officers from agencies with diversion programs completed relevant survey questions.
- Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyze officers' views and influencing factors.
Main Results:
- A majority of officers (59%) believe their substance use deflection programs are effective.
- Over 75% of respondents found these programs appropriate, feasible, and implementable.
- Factors like "tough-on-crime" attitudes and shorter tenure decreased perceived effectiveness, while personal connection to substance use/mental health issues and larger department size increased it.
Conclusions:
- Police officers generally perceive substance use deflection programs positively, supporting their effectiveness and implementability.
- Commonly identified barriers underscore the complex societal issues that impact program success.
- Support for deflection suggests opportunities for enhanced collaboration between law enforcement and public health sectors.
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