The use of sedatives on people detained by police has quietly expanded nationwide over the past 15 years, driven by questionable science and supported by experts aligned with law enforcement, according to an investigation led by The Associated Press.
Between 2012 and 2021, at least 94 individuals died after being given sedatives and restrained by police, as revealed in findings from the AP in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. This represents nearly 10% of over 1,000 deaths identified in cases where police actions intended to subdue individuals were involved.
Proponents argue that administering sedatives enables rapid treatment during drug-related behavioral crises and psychotic episodes, protects first responders from violence, and is routinely used to transport individuals with life-threatening conditions to hospitals safely.
Critics contend that forced sedation should be strictly restricted or prohibited altogether. They argue that administering medications without consent during police encounters carries significant risks.
Opioids (Via Ray Jones/Shutterstock)
These incidents occurred across diverse locations nationwide, from the Arizona desert to urban streets in St. Louis and residential areas in Florida. They occurred in various settings including homes, parking lots, ambulances, and occasionally hospitals, where police encounters escalated.
Determining the exact role of sedatives in each of the 94 deaths was challenging. Many cases involved additional use of potentially harmful force against individuals who had used drugs or alcohol, complicating assessments of sedative impacts.
Medical experts explained to the AP that sedatives could have minimal effect in individuals already nearing death, exacerbate heart or respiratory failure in those in medical distress, or become the primary cause of death if administered incorrectly or inappropriately.
While official reports cited sedatives as a cause or contributing factor in a dozen deaths, investigations into the appropriateness of sedative use were often lacking. Traditionally seen as safe treatments by medical authorities, some experts now believe sedatives may play a more significant role than previously understood and require closer examination.
