After years of alarming numbers There has been a sustained decline in overdose deaths in the United States since the end of 2023. Although the phenomenon still varies greatly between states and regions, the decline has sparked interest among public health professionals who want to find out which measures and strategies are working. Among the less visible but increasingly relevant factors is one profound change in the way police intervene with people with problematic drug use.
For decades, the dominant response was substance use criminal punishment. Arrests, incarcerations and court filings were common tools, although several studies showed that this approach not only failed to solve addiction but also increased the risk of relapse and fatal overdoses. However, expansion began in recent years. An alternative model: police crisis intervention training, known as Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).
This type of training emerged in the late 1980s and was originally aimed at helping officers recognize mental health crises and manage complex situations. without using force or making arrests. As the opioid crisis spreads and the devastating effects of fentanyl continue, many police departments have adapted these programs to address substance use disorders as well.
West Virginia is an emblematic example. For years it was considered the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, with overdose rates among the highest in the country. However, it has recently been among the states that have reduced drug-related deaths the most. Although there is no single explanation, researchers and local officials suggest that the introduction of crisis intervention programs contributed to this change.
Through CIT training, officers learn to recognize when a person is in a drug crisis, communicate sensitively, and reduce tension. Instead of escalating the conflict or automatically initiating an arrest, officers learn to explore alternatives, such as referral to medical services, treatment centers or community support networks.
“When a person enters the prison system, the risk of an overdose increases.”explain addiction specialists. The loss of tolerance during incarceration and the lack of follow-up care after release from prison causes many users to relapse into extremely dangerous conditions. In contrast, early access to treatment, even if it does not guarantee ultimate recovery, can save lives and reduce criminal behavior related to consumption.
One of the key elements of this approach is what experts call “direct derivation.” warm handover. Instead of simply providing information or contacts, agents actively accompany the person to a care facility or coordinate your immediate entry into the healthcare system. This strategy aims to remove bureaucratic and emotional barriers at a critical moment.
Those who work in these programs emphasize that crisis intervention also changes police culture. In addition to providing technological tools, the training changes the way agents perceive addicts from being seen as criminals to being recognized as patients in vulnerable situations.
However, change does not come without resistance. Parts of society continue to defend a punitive response, on the grounds that any unlawful behavior must be punished. In the face of these criticisms, proponents of the CIT model claim that holding people accountable and helping them are not conflicting goals. Instead, providing treatment and restraint may be a more effective way to reduce harm and improve public safety.
Preliminary data appears to support this view. Comparisons between jurisdictions with and without crisis intervention programs show a link between police training and reduced overdose deaths. While experts warn that more studies are needed to confirm the causal link, The approach is gaining traction as part of a broader public health response.
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