Jac Charlier, executive director of TASC’s Center for Health and Justice (CHJ), and Ben Ekelund, director of CHJ, have co-authored an issue brief for the National Drug Court Resource Center to support law enforcement officers in responding to people with substance use disorders. 

As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities and families across the country, and methamphetamine use is rapidly growing, the frequency of law enforcement officers acting as first “health” responders to active users has risen. To assist law enforcement in managing this role and in capitalizing on opportunities to deflect and divert people into treatment, the Justice Programs Office (JPO) at American University enlisted Charlier and Ekelund to author the brief, Accessing Substance Use Disorder and Related Treatment Services Training for Law Enforcement.