Nationwide Decline in Overdose Deaths Linked to Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement
Since fall 2023, national overdose deaths have declined, although this decrease has been uneven across states, with West Virginia among those achieving substantial reductions.
A key factor in this improvement is the increasing adoption of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for law enforcement officers. CIT, which originated in the late 1980s to help officers recognize mental health issues and connect affected individuals with treatment rather than jail, now also focuses on training officers to recognize substance use crises. Officers are taught to communicate empathetically and facilitate treatment, including providing a 'warm handoff' to treatment facilities.
Early research links CIT to reductions in overdose fatalities. Advocates assert that getting people into treatment reduces the motivation for crime and improves survival rates, even if recovery is not permanent.
Despite some skepticism about CIT—where some argue that jail accountability is necessary—proponents emphasize combining accountability with treatment to better serve individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
Yolandah Mwikisa, an official from West Virginia, observes that more officers want to perform their duties better and understand the experiences of people with substance use disorders, influencing how CIT is implemented in practice.
