Kate LeMasters and her colleagues conducted a qualitative study published in Health & Justice, found striking agreement across diverse stakeholders. During their interviews, they discovered a shared sentiment: “You can’t incarcerate yourself out of the drug problem in America.” They found that all participants supported policy efforts to prevent fatal fentanyl overdoses, yet most thought that increased use of police and incarceration as avenues to prevent overdose was misguided. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers seeking evidence-based alternatives to criminalization in addressing substance use disorders.
New research on “Colorado’s 2022 Fentanyl criminalization law” challenges punitive approaches to the overdose crisis
