Beyond Punishment: Police Officers’ Experiences of the Interplay Between Law Enforcement and Harm Reduction

Abstract

Drug-related harm reduction services in Sweden have developed slowly, shaped by political resistance and regional disparities. This study focuses on three harm reduction interventions currently implemented in Sweden: needle exchange programs, opioid substitution treatment, and Naloxone distribution. The aim of this study is to examine the interplay between Sweden’s restrictive drug policy and harm reduction services in the Western Region through the lived experiences of police officers. Luhmann’s Systems Theory and a social constructivist approach inform the study’s exploration of police officers’ experiences. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with patrol officers, and thematic analysis identified key patterns in perceptions and practices. Findings reveal that while police officers occasionally engage in harm-reducing behaviors, these actions are shaped by discretion and individual judgment rather than institutional policy. Participants expressed both support and skepticism toward harm reduction services, with attitudes shaped more by occupational relevance and lived experience than by public health ideology. Police officers also highlighted challenges related to inter-system collaboration, describing fragmented structures and a lack of formal coordination with healthcare and social services. By applying Luhmann’s Systems Theory, the study shows how the legal and healthcare systems operate under distinct logics, leading to limited structural coupling. For harm reduction efforts to become more consistent and sustainable, cross-system coordination must be strengthened. Reframing harm reduction in terms of public safety and occupational utility may enhance integration and better support both police officers and PWUD in practice.