Police Officers’ Perspectives of Harm Reduction Programs in West Virginia

Background As the United States’ drug epidemic continues and resources dwindle, some police agencies are searching for alternatives to combat drug use in their communities. Some police agencies are interacting with harm reduction programs (HRPs) more frequently. Few studies have documented polices’ perspectives of these programs in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to garner police officers’ perspectives of HRPs and how these programs may influence their work in a rural state. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with police officers from January to February 2023. Participants had to be ≥18 years of age and be currently employed as an officer within the state of West Virginia. Participants were recruited across the state using non-probability sampling techniques. The interviews were conducted using a standardized script, audio recorded, and transcribed. Two researchers partook in a thematic analysis with inductive coding to determine themes using NVIVO v11 software. Results Participants ( N = 11) were mainly ≥45 years of age (55%) with ≥25 years of enforcement experience (55%). Five themes transpired: (1) nature of police work, (2) perceived benefits of HRPs, (3) perceived detriments of HRPs, (4) need for education, and (5) programmatic effectiveness and accessibility. Many officers felt HRPs could serve as an alternative to arrest for people who use drugs (PWUD) and decrease their drug use, crime, and infectious disease (i.e., improve safety) overtime. Conversely, officers felt HRPs could be detrimental if they were ineffectual as they could draw more PWUD into a community which could increase crime. Officers also discussed how harm reduction principles often conflict with their training. Conclusions From law enforcements’ perspective, HRPs can positively and negatively impact their work. Officers want more education and data on HRP effectiveness and accessibility. These findings may inform future HRP implementation in rural states such as West Virginia.