Background: Policies addressing crisis response to drug use are complex and should involve coordinated efforts with multiple partners, including people who use drugs and law enforcement. Policy codesign brings together diverse stakeholders to build policy from the “ground up” to fit local needs.
Objectives: The objectives of the current study were to a) describe the policy codesign process used to codevelop local solutions to crisis response to drug use focusing on calls with law enforcement, and b) evaluate this process.
Methods: Policy codesign was used in three Washington State regions with law enforcement, people with lived experience of drug use, and service providers. Evaluations were conducted via semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via a Rapid Analysis Process.
Results: Eight policy codesign sessions were conducted with 8-12 participants in each region across 2022-23. Sessions were led by a researcher, facilitator, and law enforcement consultant. Sessions focused on building relationships, understanding the local context of law enforcement and drugs, and prioritizing and piloting solutions. Solutions were an officer wellness program, community educational videos, letters to increase referrals to reentry peer services, and building a community coalition. Thirty-two virtual interviews were conducted in March-April 2023. Participants cited strengths such as organized facilitation, high engagement from community members, and an open environment to discuss crisis response that included diverse perspectives.
Implications: Policy codesign can be a helpful approach to build complex policies, like drug policy, to prioritize the needs, values, and interests of communities.