@article{ref1,
title="Characteristics of post-overdose public health-public safety outreach in Massachusetts",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2020",
author="Waye, Katherine M. and Formica, Scott W. and Walley, Alexander Y. and Hunter, Allie and Rosenbloom, David and Xuan, Ziming and Carroll, Jennifer J. and Bagley, Sarah M. and Yan, Shapei and Benintendi, Allyn O. and Green, Traci C. and Apsler, Robert and Beletsky, Leo",
volume="219",
number="",
pages="e108499-e108499",
abstract="BACKGROUND: As a response to mounting overdose fatalities, cross-agency outreach efforts have emerged to reduce future risk among overdose survivors. We aimed to  characterize such programs in Massachusetts, with focus on team composition,  approach, services provided, and funding. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a two-phase  cross-sectional survey of public health and safety providers in Massachusetts. Providers in all 351 municipalities received a screening survey. Those with programs  received a second, detailed survey. We analyzed responses using descriptive  statistics. <br><br>RESULTS: As of July 2019, 44 % (156/351) of Massachusetts municipalities  reported post-overdose outreach programs, with 75 % (104/138) formed between  2016-2019. Teams conducted home-based outreach 1-3 days following overdose events. Police departments typically supplied location information on overdose events (99 %,  136/138) and commonly participated in outreach visits (86 %, 118/138) alongside  public health personnel, usually from community-based organizations. Teams provided  or made referrals to services including inpatient addiction treatment, recovery  support, outpatient medication, overdose prevention education, and naloxone. Some  programs deployed law enforcement tools, including pre-visit warrant queries (57 %,  79/138), which occasionally led to arrest (11 %, 9/79). Many programs (81 %,  112/138) assisted families with involuntary commitment to treatment - although this  was usually considered an option of last resort. Most programs were grant-funded (76  %, 104/136) and engaged in cross-municipal collaboration (94 %, 130/138). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Post-overdose outreach programs have expanded, typically as  collaborations between police and public health. Further research is needed to  better understand the implications of involving police and to determine best  practices for increasing engagement in treatment and harm reduction services and  reduce subsequent overdose.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108499",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108499"
}