With the continued US overdose crisis, people who use drugs and police have millions of interactions each year. These interactions offer a unique opportunity to connect these individuals with care in the community.  

Police-assisted diversion programs, such as those implemented in Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, take advantage of this opportunity by replacing arrest with treatment and support.  Such programs appear promising, but have not been fully studied.  We do not know their overall effect on the health of the population or how the costs and outcomes compare to traditional arrest pathways.

 

In this study, we will look at how the programs in PA and MD started, the impact they have had, and whether they are a good use of community resources.  Our findings will help police departments and health providers across the country understand the best approaches to truly support people who use drugs and the community at large.