TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Drug-related disorder diagnoses and demographic characteristics associated with legal intervention-related injuries [conference abstract] JO - Injury prevention A1 - Bunn, Terry A1 - Bush, Ashley A1 - Ward, Patrick A1 - Liford, Madison SP - A9 1G.005 EP - A9 1G.005 VL - 27 IS - Suppl 2 N2 - Virtual Pre-Conference Global Injury Prevention Showcase 2021 - Abstract Book - # 1G.005 Background Law enforcement official (LEO) use of force during suspect restraint/apprehension is a serious concern resulting in suspect and LEO injuries. Drug use has been identified as a factor in use-of-force incidents. Methods This study characterized Kentucky LEO and suspect legal intervention (LI) related injuries and assessed associations between substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses and demographic characteristics with ICD-10-CM coded LI emergency department (ED) injury visits for years 2016-2018. Logistic regression models examined the most common LEO and suspect injuries. Results There was a larger proportion of LEO LI hand injury ED visits compared to suspects; there was a larger proportion of suspect LI head injury ED visits compared to LEOs. Among suspect LI ED visits, there were higher odds of head injury ED visits with a SUD (adjusted OR = 1.92), Appalachian county residence (adjusted OR = 1.45), or manhandling LI (adjusted OR = 1.42). No association was found between SUD diagnoses or demographic characteristics and LEO legal intervention hand-related injury ED visits. Conclusions When de-escalation techniques fail and LI is required, LEO tactics other than use-of-force are recommended to reduce injuries. Crisis Intervention Team and other trainings may prove beneficial by reducing the need for force; in cases involving SUDs, it is recommended that suspects be referred to treatment. Learning Outcomes LEOs should employ alternative tactics to reduce officer and suspect use-of-force injuries during LI. Safer options include control techniques, striking zones on suspects, and other tools and body parts when LEO de-escalation training techniques have failed.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1353-8047 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2021-safety.27 ID - ref1 ER -