Are Substance Use Deflection Programs Seen as Effective?: Exploring Police Attitudes on Program Implementation.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and determinants of beliefs in substance use deflection programs' effectiveness among police officers working in agencies with diversion initiatives.

Methods: We present responses from an anonymous online survey about deflection programs fielded to all law enforcement officers in the State of Delaware in January 2025. A total of 111 officers reported working in an agency with a substance use deflection program and completed relevant survey questions. Descriptive statistics summarize police officers' views on program effectiveness, attitudes toward leadership, beliefs in enforcing the law, occupational experiences, and personal characteristics. Logistic regression models isolate the factors associated with beliefs in program effectiveness. Descriptive statistics identify common barriers to deflection program implementation.

Results: A majority (59%) believe their programs are effective. On average, over three-quarters of respondents express that deflection programs are appropriate, feasible, and implementable. Tough-on-crime attitudes and being in a position for less than five years diminish the likelihood of stating that a deflection program is effective. Knowing someone who has a substance use or mental health disorder and working in a larger police department increases perceptions of program effectiveness. The three most commonly cited barriers to program implementation were having people interested in treatment, homelessness/housing issues, and the potential ineffectiveness of diversion.

Conclusions: Police officers generally believe their departments' substance use deflection programs are successful. Even more officers think programs can be easily and appropriately implemented. Commonly cited barriers highlight the difficulties in addressing substance use in communities.

Policy implications: This overall support for deflection underscores the potential for further cross-system collaborations with public health practitioners. Such partnerships may also be vital in addressing barriers that inhibit law enforcement-based deflection efforts. Further evaluation and research efforts can demonstrate the impacts of substance use deflection and the practices that make deflection programs more successful.