‘Police can be the best friends or the worst enemies of harm reduction.’
Which way do you want your force to go? Here are some tools that Triangle Points provides to reduce drug-related harms encountered by law enforcement officers. What's in it for the police? Well, in addition to the tools provided by Triangle Points, click here to read "A Needle Exchange Program: What’s In It For Police?" By S.W. McCampbell and P.N. Rubin, Police Executive Research Forum, October 2000 Vol. 14, No. 10. You can also read "Needle Exchange Programs: Considerations for Criminal Justice" from the same forum between law enforcement and public health officials.
Puncture-Resistent Gloves Now Available
These gloves are endorsed by the Law Enforcement Training Institute and are designed to reduce the chance of needle-sticks during pat-downs. The material is stronger than Kevlar, with 5.5 lbf of cut protection. They are lightweight and breathable with a mesh top, making them well-suited for North Carolina temperatures. They allow enough flexibility and control for the defensive discharge of a firearm while wearing them, and have silicone grip for hard surfaces. They come in sizes xsm to xxlg. The manufacturer does not sell directly to law enforcement agencies, but former police officers supportive of syringe exchange and harm reduction have negotiated a lower price (around $20) than is available to the public; Triangle Points can bring these savings to local police departments. Contact us and let's get these gloves out where they'll be of use.
Portable disposal containers for dirty syringes.
Triangle Points is willing to provide any local law enforcement agency or service provider with OSHA and FDA approved, crush-proof, leak-proof biohazard containers for safely disposing of used syringes. These convenient containers can hold up to 10 syringes, although larger 50 and 100 syringe containers are also available. These containers are safer than putting the dirty points in plastic soda bottles because the plastic will not be punctured under pressure. There is no way to get the syringes back out (see the opening in the picture on the left), and fluids won't leak, so disposal worries are minimal. Contact us if you want more information.
50 Best Harm Reduction Practices for Law Enforcement
If you only read one thing...
This paper is explicitly aimed at law enforcement personnel, and aims to “provide current, objective and empirically-based information” in order to advocate for harm reduction approaches. It succinctly explains the rationale and evidence behind such approaches, as well as concrete examples of what can be achieved and implemented.
You can also browse through 50 articles related to harm reduction and law enforcement. This includes perspectives from local and high level police agencies on syringe exchange, detainment, substance abuse treatment and turning theory into practice. There are links to police SOPs that explicitly talk about how to deal with needle exchange programs and clients. The list was compiled by the International Harm Reduction Association; if there are particular articles you are interested in but cannot access, please contact us.
Trainings for Law Enforcement
Triangle Points, in association with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, conducts trainings for law enforcement officers. Our speakers include retired law enforcement officials with decades of experience at local and national enforcement authorities. If you are interested, we can schedule a training for your force. Please contact us.
The Asian Regional HIV/AIDS Project has developed a set of practical ‘tools’ designed to engage police and advocate for harm reduction at different levels. Some of these tools will be useful to for us in North Carolina, as well.
These tools include a comprehensive police harm reduction training curriculum, booklets that explain harm reduction, sample workshop and seminar programs, a DVD and examples of police policies and practices that support harm reduction efforts; many of which have been developed by police themselves.
The set of tools include:
1. Training curriculum: Law enforcement and harm reduction.
2. Booklet: Guidelines for addressing police concerns about harm reduction.
3. Booklet: Understanding harm reduction.
4. Handout: Police policies and practices that support harm reduction.
5. Handout: Police and health – local level agreement.
6. Resource: TOT graduates.
7. Handout: Guidelines and program – senior police seminars.
8. Sample training/workshop session: Law enforcement and harm reduction organisations: improving relationships.
9. Handout: Preventing police occupational exposure.
10. Handouts: ORW - Peer education – Primary care health – NSPS.
The complete package of tools is available in electronic version by going to the ARHP website and clicking on the link to Resources and Publications. Or you can download them by clicking here and here.
Law Enforcement and Syringe Exchange
Do experienced law enforcement officers have a position on syringe exchange programs? Let's let officers speak for themselves.
Strategies for Preventing Needle-Stick Injuries
Paragraph.
What to do if you get stuck with a needle
Some states provide 24-hour hotlines to address calls from all emergency personnel who get stuck with dirty needles. We don't have such a service in North Carolina, so here are some things you should know...
What pill is this?
From the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, this is a chart of some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs. If you are having a hard time identifying the pills, this chart may help. Some Poison Centers also provide pill identification services. You can reach them at: 1-800-222-1222. You can get free copies of the card to keep in your squad car by writing to NADDI directly on departmental letterhead. You can also get information on counterfeit drugs through this link to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Worried about pharmacy robberies?
In 2003, a total of 7,652,099 dosage units of controlled substances were stolen/lost from pharmacies or the pharmaceutical supply chain. RxPatrol is a reporting system for pharmacy robberies and other crime related to controlled substances. The database includes reports and analyses of nearly 500 forged prescriptions from South Carolina, and more than 700 pharmacy robberies nationwide, including North Carolina. It is free to register and sign up for their alerts.
Reference & Full text: Joranson DE, Gilson AM. Drug crime is a source of abused pain medications in the United States. J Pain Symptom Management. 2005 Oct;30(4):299-301
