The Opioid Crisis, Policy Deservingness, and Humanization: A Nationwide Survey of First Responders' Viewpoints on Clients of Color

The opioid crisis affects both people who use drugs and the first responders entrusted with responding to opioid overdose calls. Despite the severity of the crisis, there is limited research on how racial biases influence first responder perceptions of clients who use opioids and the moderating factors present. Employing the social construction of target populations theory, we utilize a survey experiment of police and emergency medical services (EMS) providers in the United States to understand the association between the race of clients with opioid use disorder and first responder perceptions of client deservingness, considering humanization as a moderator. Findings show police have less favorable perceptions regarding the deservingness of Black and race-neutral clients compared to White clients. However, client humanness is a positive predictor of deservingness across all models. Results from our full sample and EMS-provider models demonstrate that humanization moderates the association between the client's race and deservingness, reversing negative beliefs about Black clients. The study contributes to literature on the deservingness and dehumanization of so-named “deviant” clients during crises. Despite societal shifts in empathy for people who use opioids, racial factors still influence crisis response. We provide policy recommendations to improve conditions for first responders and their clients.