Police Officers’ Views of Naloxone and Drug Treatment: Does Greater Overdose Response Lead to More Negativity?

Police officers and emergency personnel are on the frontlines of the opioid crisis. This research examines police officer attitudes about naloxone administration, drug treatment, and their role in handling drug-related incidents through an online survey. Although officers view themselves as adequately trained in administering naloxone/Narcan, almost half (43%) believe there should be a limit on how often someone who overdoses receives Narcan and the majority (83%) view naloxone/Narcan as providing an excuse to continue drug use. Officers also view drug treatment as ineffective. Negative attitudes differed as a function of frequency of overdose responses; officers who responded to more overdose calls and administered naloxone more frequently demonstrate more pessimistic attitudes toward drug treatment and the use of naloxone/Narcan. Officers more frequently exposed to drug overdoses need education and training about drug addiction issues to decrease stigma and elicit greater empathy toward people struggling with addiction.

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Development of Innovative Technologies to Improve Health and Wellbeing Behavioural Transformation in the Police Force (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28075 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emma Swanston ◽

Andy Pulman ◽

Huseyin Dogan ◽

Jane Murphy ◽

Fiona Bitters

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Police Officers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Working Hours ◽

Police Force ◽

User Engagement ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Starting Point ◽

Officer Attitudes ◽

Improve Health

BACKGROUND Police officers often work long, unsocial hours in a highly pressurised environment and may experience difficulties when managing their health and wellbeing. Those working in the police face different health issues in comparison to the general public; their job can be highly stressful and feature unusual working hours and multiple shift patterns. A UK police force requested help investigating technologies which could be used to improve health and wellbeing; researching how these technologies could be used to measure and track health behaviour change. OBJECTIVE Research aims were focused on exploring current police officer attitudes to health and wellbeing technology and their use of existing health-related technology, conducted via an online survey for police officers and client meetings. Highlighting existing practice, gathering views about how technology could be used and opinions on what specific areas of health officers would like to see covered in a tailored mobile technological solution. This information would be used as a starting point for future prototyping of a targeted application that aimed to help solve issues that existing technology did not effectively cover. METHODS An online survey was completed by (n=213) police officers during the first period of UK lockdown. The survey was designed to find out what solutions the participants used outside of those supplied by their employer, as well as identifying issues or problems and what they would like a hypothetical application to focus on. Due to challenges arising from COVID-19 restrictions - in terms of logistics and operational pressures on the commissioning force – additional requirements data was captured through client meetings; including discussions concerning previous attempted solutions and those currently in place. A thematic analysis was undertaken to identify key themes. RESULTS Key challenges and opportunities of designing and delivering an integrated digital solution and maintaining user engagement were highlighted. Four key themes were identified for application coverage. These were the four areas of health and wellbeing that participants felt they would benefit from the most. In order of importance these were Activity, Food and Diet, Sleep, and Fluid Intake. CONCLUSIONS Research data suggests there is a requirement for a mobile application which would provide an easily accessible platform for police officers to utilise regardless of current location. One which could provide guidelines on diet, lifestyle habits and behaviour to help the user make informed decisions to assist in personalised behaviour change. Notably one which also aligns effectively with the irregular shift patterns of its users.

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New Research Reveals Federal Inmate Drug Treatment Programs Reduce Recidivism and Future Drug Use

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e372962004-001 ◽

1998 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Future Drug ◽

Drug Treatment Programs ◽

New Research

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Cultural Values Influence Mental-Health Help-Seeking in Asian and Latinx College Students

10.31234/osf.io/674h9 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Elayne Zhou ◽

Yena Kyeong ◽

Cecilia Cheung ◽

Kalina Michalska;Michalska

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Help Seeking Behaviors ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Ethnic Group Membership

The current study examined the influence of cultural values on mental health attitudes and help-seeking behaviors in college students of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Asian and Latinx college students (N = 159) completed an online survey in which they reported their adherence to cultural values and general attitudes towards mental health and help-seeking behavior. Factor analysis revealed two common factors of cultural values irrespective of ethnic background: Interdependent Orientation (IO) and Cultural Obligation (CO). Regardless of ethnicity, the more students endorsed IO values, the less likely they were to perceive a need for mental health treatment. IO value adherence also predicted more negative attitudes towards mental health. CO values were not predictive of perceived need or help-seeking behaviors. Findings highlight the importance of assessing certain cultural values independently from ethnicity and considering how the multidimensionality of culture may help explain shared mental health behaviors across ethnic group membership.

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Exploring the use of cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs in a convenience sample

Harm Reduction Journal ◽

10.1186/s12954-021-00520-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sinikka L. Kvamme ◽

Michael M. Pedersen ◽

Kristine Rømer Thomsen ◽

Birgitte Thylstrup

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Drug Use ◽

Prescription Drug ◽

Prescription Drugs ◽

Online Survey ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Patient Organizations ◽

Public Media ◽

Prescription Drug Use ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The use of cannabis as medicine (CaM) both prescribed and non-prescribed has increased markedly in the last decade, mirrored in a global shift in cannabis policy towards a more permissive stance. There is some evidence that cannabis functions as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids; however, more knowledge is needed on the motives of substitution users, their patterns of use, and perceived effects of substitution use. Aims To explore who substitutes prescription drugs with cannabis, the type of prescription drugs substituted and the type of cannabis used, and the impact that substitution with cannabis has on prescription drug use as well as the motives for substitution in terms of experienced effects and side effects. Methods A self-selected convenience sample was recruited through social media, public media, and patient organizations to take part in an anonymous online survey. Inclusion criteria were 18 years or older and use of cannabis (prescribed or non-prescribed) with a medical purpose. Results The final sample included 2.841 respondents of which the majority (91%) used non-prescribed cannabis, and more than half (54.6%) had used CaM with the purpose of replacing a prescribed drug. Compared to non-substitution users, substitution users were more likely to be women and to use CaM in the treatment of chronic pain and other somatic conditions. Pain medication (67.2%), antidepressants (24.5%), and arthritis medication (20.7%) were the most common types of drugs replaced with CaM. Among substitution users, 38.1% reported termination of prescription drug use, and 45.9% a substantial decrease in prescription drug use. The most frequent type of cannabis used as a substitute was CBD-oil (65.2%), followed by ‘hash, pot or skunk’ (36.6%). More than half (65.8%) found CaM much more effective compared to prescription drugs, and 85.5% that the side effects associated with prescription drug use were much worse compared to use of CaM. Conclusion CaM is frequently used as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids. More research is needed on the long-term consequences of use of CaM, including the impact from low and high THC cannabis products on specific somatic and mental health conditions.

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Impact of dementia education and training on health and social care staff knowledge, attitudes and confidence: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e039939

Author(s):

Sahdia Parveen ◽

Sarah Jane Smith ◽

Cara Sass ◽

Jan R Oyebode ◽

Andrea Capstick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Social Care ◽

Education And Training ◽

Care Staff ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Training Content ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training ◽

Dementia Education

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to establish the impact of dementia education and training on the knowledge, attitudes and confidence of health and social care staff. The study also aimed to identify the most effective features (content and pedagogical) of dementia education and training.DesignCross-sectional survey study. Data collection occurred in 2017.SettingsHealth and social care staff in the UK including acute care, mental health community care trusts, primary care and care homes.ParticipantsAll health and social care staff who had completed dementia education and training meeting the minimal standards as set by Health Education England, within the past 5 years were invited to participate in an online survey. A total of 668 health and social care staff provided informed consent and completed an online survey, and responses from 553 participants were included in this study. The majority of the respondents were of white British ethnicity (94.4%) and identified as women (88.4%).OutcomesKnowledge, attitude and confidence of health and social care staff.ResultsHierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. Staff characteristics, education and training content variables and pedagogical factors were found to account for 29% of variance in staff confidence (F=4.13, p<0.001), 22% of variance in attitude (knowledge) (F=3.80, p<001), 18% of the variance in staff knowledge (F=2.77, p<0.01) and 14% of variance in staff comfort (attitude) (F=2.11, p<0.01).ConclusionThe results suggest that dementia education and training has limited impact on health and social care staff learning outcomes. While training content variables were important when attempting to improve staff knowledge, more consideration should be given to pedagogical factors when training is aiming to improve staff attitude and confidence.

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Safe Space, Dangerous Territory: Young People’s Views on Preventing Radicalization through Education—Perspectives for Pre-Service Teacher Education

Education Sciences ◽

10.3390/educsci11050205 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 205

Author(s):

Saija Benjamin ◽

Visajaani Salonen ◽

Liam Gearon ◽

Pia Koirikivi ◽

Arniika Kuusisto

Keyword(s):

Teacher Education ◽

Online Survey ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Growing Up ◽

Safe Spaces ◽

Violent Extremism ◽

International Setting ◽

Pre Service Teacher ◽

And Training

Initiatives for preventing radicalization and violent extremism through education (PVE-E) have become a feature of global educational policy and educational institutions across all phases, from early childhood to universities, also in Finland. If schools may be regarded as safe spaces here for identity and worldview construction and experiences of belonging, the specific subject matter of PVE-E is also dangerous territory. Not least because of PVE-E’s focus on radicalization, but above all because of perceptions of schools being used as an adjunct of governmental counter-terrorism policy. We argue that understanding young people’s views on issues related to radicalization and violent extremism is critical in order to develop ethical, sustainable, contextualized, and pedagogical approaches to prevent hostilities and foster peaceful co-existence. After providing some critical framing of the Finnish educational context in a broader international setting, we thus examine young people’s views (n = 3617) in relation to the safe spaces through online survey data gathered as a part of our larger 4-year research project Growing up radical? The role of educational institutions in guiding young people’s worldview construction. Specifically focused on Finland but with potentially wider international implications, more understanding about the topic of PVE-E is needed to inform teacher education and training, to which our empirical data makes some innovative contribution.

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Drug dealing and drug use prevention – a qualitative interview study of authorities’ perspectives on two open drug scenes in Stockholm

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-021-00375-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kristin Feltmann ◽

Johanna Gripenberg ◽

Anna K. Strandberg ◽

Tobias H. Elgán ◽

Pia Kvillemo

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Police Officers ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Organizational Factors ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

International Studies ◽

Drug Dealing ◽

Qualitative Interview Study ◽

Facilitators And Barriers

Abstract Background The use of illicit substances causes various health and social problems globally. Moreover, open drug use and dealing in urban areas, i.e., open drug scenes, can cause public order problems, lead to the recruitment of marginalized and young people for drug use or sale, and induce feelings of insecurity in the general public. Although some international studies have described various ways to manage open drug scenes, such as law enforcement and social interventions, there is limited knowledge about the facilitators and barriers promoting or impeding the implementation of such interventions. The aim of the current study was to explore how different authorities describe the nature of two open drug scenes in Stockholm and to derive authorities’ perspective on facilitators and barriers to implementing interventions to reduce open drug dealing, drug use, and related problems at these locations. Methods Semi-structured interviews with police officers, security staff, social workers, and municipality officials (n = 21) in the municipality of Stockholm were conducted and analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results The analysis of the interviews generated the following categories: Problems, Interventions, Organizational factors, and External factors, revealing information about the strategic and daily counteracting work occurring at the open drug scenes as well as authorities’ perceptions of facilitators and barriers to implementing interventions to reduce open drug dealing, drug use, and related problems. Facilitators included motivated and skilled professionals and organized collaboration between key actors. Prominent barriers were a lack of resources to maintain personnel continuity at the scenes, policies that impede information sharing and put security staff in danger, and people who use or sell drugs without having residence permits. Conclusions To increase the possibility of successful implementation of interventions to counteract open drug dealing, politicians and authorities should pay attention to collaboration between key actors, sufficient resource allocation, possible modification of policy governing professional duties, and remedies to the vulnerability of individuals without residence permits.

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Physical activity counselling in Ireland: a survey of doctors’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practice

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000572 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000572 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sarah O'Brien ◽

Lucia Prihodova ◽

Mairéad Heffron ◽

Peter Wright

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Royal College ◽

Patient Preference ◽

Online Survey ◽

Response Rate ◽

Further Education ◽

Pharmaceutical Intervention ◽

And Training ◽

Do So

ObjectivePhysical activity (PA) counselling has been shown to raise awareness of the importance of PA and to increase the rate of PA engagement among patients. While much attention has been paid to examining the knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners in relation to PA counselling, there is less literature examining such issues in hospital-based doctors in Ireland and further afield. This study aimed to explore doctors’ PA counselling practices and to analyse how this related to their level of PA knowledge, training and attitudes.MethodsAn invitation to participate in an online survey was sent to 4692 members of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland who were listed as having an address in Ireland. Descriptive and explorative analyses of the data were performed using IBM SPSS V.22.0.ResultsA total of 595 valid responses were included (response rate 12.7%; 42.7% male, 42.6±12.1 years). The majority reported enquiring about PA levels (88.0%) and providing PA counselling (86.4%) in at least some of their patients. Doctors who saw it as their role and those who felt more effective/confident in providing PA counselling were significantly more likely to do so. A perceived lack of patient interest in PA and patient preference for pharmaceutical intervention were significant barriers to undertaking PA counselling.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the need for further education and training in PA counselling in Ireland with a particular focus on improving the attitudes and self-efficacy of doctors in this area at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

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