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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.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Peterson, M; Rich, J; Macmadu, A; Truong, AQ; Green, TC; Beletsky, L; Pognon, K; Brinkley-Rubinstein, L
Published in: Int J Drug Policy
August 2019

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 for addressing substance use disorders, feelings that further criminalization could lead to violence, criminalization as a justification for interpersonal loss, and intention as meaningful to categorizing an act as homicide. 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.

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Published In

Int J Drug Policy

DOI

EISSN

1873-4758

Publication Date

August 2019

Volume

70

Start / End Page

47 / 53

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Substance Abuse
  • Rhode Island
  • Qualitative Research
  • Prisoners
  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Legislation, Drug
  • Humans
 

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MLA
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Peterson, M., Rich, J., Macmadu, A., Truong, A. Q., Green, T. C., Beletsky, L., … Brinkley-Rubinstein, L. (2019). "One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot": Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals. Int J Drug Policy, 70, 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.001
Peterson, Meghan, Josiah Rich, Alexandria Macmadu, Ashley Q. Truong, Traci C. Green, Leo Beletsky, Kimberly Pognon, and Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein. “"One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot": Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals.Int J Drug Policy 70 (August 2019): 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.001.
Peterson M, Rich J, Macmadu A, Truong AQ, Green TC, Beletsky L, et al. "One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot": Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals. Int J Drug Policy. 2019 Aug;70:47–53.
Peterson, Meghan, et al. “"One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot": Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals.Int J Drug Policy, vol. 70, Aug. 2019, pp. 47–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.001.
Peterson M, Rich J, Macmadu A, Truong AQ, Green TC, Beletsky L, Pognon K, Brinkley-Rubinstein L. "One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot": Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals. Int J Drug Policy. 2019 Aug;70:47–53.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Drug Policy

DOI

EISSN

1873-4758

Publication Date

August 2019

Volume

70

Start / End Page

47 / 53

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Substance Abuse
  • Rhode Island
  • Qualitative Research
  • Prisoners
  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Legislation, Drug
  • Humans