Hunter Baldwin
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Chin Hwa Dahlem
Research Mentor School/College/Department: HBBS / Nursing
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Authors: Hunter Baldwin, Rebecca Egbert, Robert J. Ploutz-Snyder, Clayton Shuman, Gina Dahlem
Abstract
Since the start of the 21st century we have seen the rate of fatal overdoses increase year over year almost without fail. The overdose epidemic was officially announced as a public health emergency in 2017 when there were about 70,000 deaths due to overdoses in a year. In 2021, that number was 107,600. The traditional approach to counteract this problem is to penalize people who use drugs (PWUD), but this approach has not thus far produced any meaningful reduction in deaths. In recent years the harm reduction model, which emphasizes engaging directly with PWUD in order to lower risk of overdose, has risen in popularity as a different approach to this unique problem. My research project focuses on evaluating several different harm reduction programs that are being implemented in the state of Michigan. These programs will include drug checking services for PWUD to check their drugs for adulterants or contaminants, Quick Response Teams who try to prevent future overdoses by connecting PWUD with treatment services, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Programs which seek to coordinate divert people away from the criminal justice system, and jail-based peer recovery coaches who try to help PWUD already in the criminal justice system. This research project seeks to evaluate the reach, effect, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of these different programs with the hope of proving their efficacy in combating the overdose epidemic.
