Ready, willing, and able: California college campus law enforcement officers’ respond to the opioid overdose attitudes scale

Abstract

BackgroundCollege campus police departments are providing law enforcement officers the authority to administer naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdose. This study explored the competence, concerns, and readiness among college campus-based law enforcement officers in Northern California to administer naloxone in case of an opioid overdose on campus. Methods: Using a quantitative, cross sectional design, law enforcement officers from seven Northern California college campus-based police departments were recruited for this study. Participants completed sociodemographic information and the Opioid Overdose Attitudes Scale (OOAS) electronically. Results: Forty law enforcement officers completed questionnaires. Findings suggested officers were ready and willing to assist opioid overdose victims, had sufficient naloxone administration training, and were not concerned with consequences of precipitating withdrawal symptoms or harm to a student after administering naloxone. Conclusions: College campus-based law enforcement officers had positive attitudes regarding handling opioid overdose situations and felt mostly comfortable administering naloxone.