'&#x27;One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot&#x27;: Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals' and 'Pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness and interest among participants in a MAT program...'

Peterson, Meghan

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Year:: 2019
Contributor:: Peterson, Meghan (creator); Rich, Josiah (Advisor); Brinkley-Rubinstein, Lauren (Reader); Brown University. School of Public Health (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: Social policy; Prisoners; Qualitative research
Extent:: v, 44 p.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26300/dwsd-c286

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Abstract:: Abstract Background As overdose deaths have increased in the United States, some lawmakers have explored punitive, “supply-side” interventions aimed at reducing the supply of fentanyl. While a rationale of seeking to protect people who use drugs is often given to justify harsh sentences for fentanyl distribution, there is no research to our knowledge on perceptions of the effect of drug-induced homicide laws among people who use drugs. Methods We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 40 people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who were enrolled in a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) program in a unified jail and prison system in Rhode Island on attitudes surrounding increased sentences for distribution of fentanyl, including recently enacted drug-induced homicide laws. Codes were developed using a generalized, inductive method and interviews analyzed in NVivo 12 after being coded by two coders. Results Most participants stated that drug-induced homicide laws would not be an effective strategy to stem the overdose crisis. We identified key themes, including discussions surrounding the autonomy of people who use drugs, widespread fentanyl prevalence as a barrier to implementation of drug-induced homicide laws, discussions of mass incarceration as ineffective, feelings that further criminalization could lead to violence, criminalization as a justification for interpersonal loss, intention as meaningful to categorizing an act as homicide, and discussion of blurry lines between drug sellers and people who use drugs. Conclusions Findings highlight the importance of centering the experiences of people with OUD in creating policies surrounding the overdose epidemic, potential unintended health consequences of drug-induced homicides laws such as deterrence from calling 911 and increased violence, and how drug-induced homicide laws may undermine advances made in expanding access to OUD treatment for people who are criminal justice-involved.
Notes:: Thesis (M. P. H.)--Brown University, 2019

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Peterson, Meghan, "''One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot': Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals' and 'Pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness and interest among participants in a MAT program...'" (2019). Public Health Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.26300/dwsd-c286

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Public Health Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Public Health department.
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"'One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot': Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals" and "Pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness and interest among participants in a MAT program..."