Criminal legal penalties, substance use, and overdose: a concept mapping study examining Colorado's criminal legal penalties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the USA, many states, including Colorado, have increased criminal penalties for illicit opioid possession, which may alter overdose risk. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between Colorado's increased drug-related criminal legal penalties, risk of overdose, and substance use patterns.

Methods

We used concept mapping - a mixed-methods approach used to develop a conceptual understanding of an issue from a community lens - to engage with people with living and/or lived experience with the criminal legal system, substance use, and/or overdose, their loved ones, and service providers. In facilitated discussion, we used the prompt: "Do you see overdose and substance use, in Colorado, being impacted by an individual's involvement with the criminal legal system?" P

SUBMITTER: LeMasters K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11694465 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature