When we think about law enforcement, we often picture officers tackling crime head-on. But what is sometimes overlooked is their increasing role as first responders in life-and-death medical situations. At the IACP 2024 conference, the Police Physicians track put this responsibility front and center, focusing on how officers can and do save lives with tools like naloxone.
It’s no secret that the opioid crisis has placed an extraordinary burden on our public safety systems. With officers already navigating countless challenges in their daily duties, the ability to administer naloxone — a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses — has become a game-changer.
The 2024 IACP conference agenda for police officers featured a session about New York State’s naloxone program, presented by Dr. Michael Dailey and Dr. Warren Hayashi, who highlighted just how pivotal police officers have become in preventing overdose deaths.
Memorable quotes from the session
“Law enforcement officers are providing extraordinarily empathic, timely, and appropriate care to drug overdose patients, and it’s really reinvigorating to see.” — Dr. Michael Dailey
“We have a significant opportunity here to stabilize and make a difference. Law enforcement tends to arrive within four minutes, compared to ambulances, which typically arrive about seven minutes later, on a good day.” — Dr. Warren Hayashi
“Cops aren’t paramedics, nurses, or physicians. Cops are a lot more important than that. They are ubiquitous in our community, and using police officers as a first step in the chain of survival is incredibly important in making this work.” — Dr. Michael Dailey
The opioid epidemic’s three waves
Drs. Dailey and Hayashi broke down the opioid crisis into three distinct waves: the initial surge in prescription opioid misuse, followed by the rise of heroin, and now, the potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl. With each wave, criminality, addiction and LE involvement increased.
New York identified the lifesaving potential of first on scene officers and after overcoming initial departmental concerns and objections, trained officers across the state to administer naloxone effectively. Dailey and Hayashi highlighted that analysis and intelligence on changing drug supplies and the presence of synthetic opioids have required adaptations in naloxone training. In addition to administering naloxone, Dailey and Hayashi praised the level of compassionate care, perhaps more than attending EMTs, frequently demonstrating empathy toward individuals struggling with substance use.
Lessons from the frontline
The insights from New York State’s naloxone program provide valuable lessons that law enforcement agencies across the nation can adopt:
- First on scene: Time is of the essence, and officers usually beat EMS to the scene. This early intervention can be the difference between life and death.
- Compassion counts: There’s a misconception that law enforcement lacks the bedside manner of medical professionals. In reality, officers often show immense empathy toward those experiencing an overdose, creating a bridge between survival and professional care.
- Stay agile: The opioid landscape is shifting, and training must evolve. Officers are not just administering naloxone — they’re adapting to adulterants like xylazine and medetomidine, which present new challenges, and increase the need to support ventilation as well. Treating overdose is about respiration and not conversation.
- Naloxone saves lives: With an 87% survival rate over 10 years and nearly 17,000 administrations, the data is clear — this program works.
- Leave-behind kits: The initiative to have LE distribute naloxone when officers identify people with opioid use disorder is a critical step in building a broader safety net. This program allows officers to train and equip families and the public with naloxone to treat an overdose while awaiting 911 response.
- Train for tomorrow: Keeping up with the latest drug trends and training methods is essential. This includes a focus on maintaining breathing rather than fully waking overdose patients, especially when dealing with synthetic drugs.
Takeaways for law enforcement
Dr. Dailey left the audience with these key points:
- Police officers may not be medical professionals, but they are an essential part of the community’s first response to medical emergencies.
- Officers are the most important step in the chain of survival for time-critical medical interventions like opioid overdoses.
- Medical interventions conducted by officers should be studied and monitored, ensuring continued success.
- Education and training need to be updated regularly, keeping officers informed about the results of their interventions.
- Officers interested in this area of response should be recruited into multidisciplinary teams to work with individuals struggling with substance use.
Bridging the gap to medical care
Drs. Dailey and Hayashi demonstrated that New York State’s law enforcement naloxone program highlights the critical role officers play in addressing the opioid crisis. With the right training, law enforcement becomes the crucial first responder, bridging the gap between an overdose event and professional medical care.
The program’s overwhelming success, evidenced by thousands of lives saved, shows that law enforcement, equipped with naloxone and a compassionate approach, can make a significant impact. Expanding initiatives like leave-behind naloxone programs and continuing to focus on empathy will only strengthen these efforts, making communities safer and better prepared to prevent overdose deaths.
