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Cited by 59Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentCriminal Justice and Corrections AnalysisCriminal Law and Policy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 32 of the 32 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Persistent criminalization and structural racism in US drug policy: the case of overdose Good Samaritan laws.

Open access
Pamplin, John R., Rouhani, Saba, Davis, Corey S., King, Carla, Townsend, Tarlise N.·2023·American Journal of Public Health
DOI 10.2105/ajph.2022.307037PMC PMC9877371
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Abstract

The US overdose crisis continues to worsen and is disproportionately harming Black and Hispanic/Latino people. Although the “War on Drugs” continues to shape drug policy—at the disproportionate expense of Black and Hispanic/Latino people—states have taken some steps to reduce War on Drugs–related harms and adopt a public health–centered approach. However, the rhetoric regarding these changes has, in many cases, outstripped reality. Using overdose Good Samaritan Laws (GSLs) as a case study, we argue that public health–oriented policy changes made in some states are undercut by the broader enduring environment of a structurally racist drug criminalization agenda that continues to permeate and constrict most attempts at change. Drawing from our collective experiences in public health research and practice, we describe 3 key barriers to GSL effectiveness: the narrow parameters within which they apply, the fact that they are subject to police discretion, and the passage of competing laws that further criminalize people who use illicit drugs. All reveal a persisting climate of drug criminalization that may reduce policy effectiveness and explain why current reforms may be destined for failure and further disadvantage Black and Hispanic/Latino people who use drugs. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(S1):S43–S48. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307037 )

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  • More than 50 years of drug criminalization has likely had persistent effects on behaviors relevant to overdose mortality, such as hesitation to call 911 to report overdose events and acknowledging a highly stigmatized criminal behavior when seeking treatment.

    “Moreover, more than 50 years of drug criminalization has likely had persistent effects on behaviors relevant to overdose mortality, such as hesitation to call 911 to report overdose events,33,34,35 and acknowledging a highly stigmatized criminal behavior when seeking treatment.36,37”

    From Drug Decriminalization, Fentanyl, and Fatal Overdoses in Oregon (2024) · cites this paper as [34]

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Alexander M., 2011, Ohio St J Crim L., 9, 7
  2. Townsend T, 2022, Am J Epidemiol., kwac122
  3. Arias E., 2012, Natl Vital Stat Rep., 61, 1
  4. Beletsky L., 2019, Utah L Rev., 4, 833

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Metadata

Authors
Pamplin, J. R., Rouhani, S., Davis, C. S., King, C., & Townsend, T. N.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Public Health
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Published
2023-01
Volume
113
Issue
S1
Pages
S43-S48
ISSN
  • 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-0048
DOI
10.2105/ajph.2022.307037
PMC
PMC9877371
OpenAlex
W4318165742
Cited by
59
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 7
FWCI
15.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
  • Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Law and Policy
Keywords
criminalization of drug use, structural racism, war on drugs, drug policy reform, public health approach to drug use, police discretion, opioid epidemic, state drug laws, racial disparities in drug enforcement
MeSH terms
Systemic Racism, Humans, Public Policy, Illicit Drugs, Police, Drug Overdose

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