Police officers' stigmatizing attitudes toward people who use drugs: implications for support of deflection

Police deflection programs represent a promising public health strategy for addressing substance use disorders (SUDs) and diverting people who use drugs (PWUD) from the criminal legal system. These programs offer support to individuals frequently encountered by law enforcement, connecting them with treatment and resources. This exploratory study investigated the relationship between police officers' stigma towards PWUD and their support for the principles of deflection programs. We surveyed 248 officers from Illinois police departments, measuring stigma using established constructs of blame, distrust, fear, and shame. We examined the association between these stigmatizing attitudes and officer support for key deflection principles: access to treatment, utilization of medications for SUDs, and the potential for resource-saving solutions for law enforcement. Our findings around the relationship between stigma and support for deflection programs were mixed. While officers holding more stigmatizing views based on fear and shame were less likely to endorse addressing drug-related crime through treatment and support, officers exhibiting blame and certain aspects of distrust were more likely to support deflection. These nuanced results underscore the critical need for further research into the multifaceted relationship between stigmatizing attitudes of police officers and their willingness to embrace deflection strategies. Understanding these dynamics can help effectively implement and optimize deflection programs, which have been shown to enhance public safety and improve public health outcomes.