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September 7, 2023
Law Enforcement and First Responder Deflection Pathways to Deflection Case Studies Series: First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway
Law enforcement and first responder deflection programs provide pivotal opportunities to redirect individuals with substance use disorder, mental health disorders, and co-occurring disorders away from placement in jails or emergency departments and, instead, connect them to community-based substance misuse treatment, mental health services, and recovery support. There are six pathways of deflection, each of which addresses specific public health and public safety challenges faced by communities. This article focuses on the First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway.