At Least 94 Fatalities Linked To Police Use Of Sedatives In US Encounters: Report

In Tennessee, Austin Turner had an episode in his home in 2017. When medics arrived, they thought Turner, who has a history of seizures, was under the influence of drugs and called the police for help. Pinned facedown by the police and medics, Turner was sprayed with a sedative up his nose; however, most of the medicine ended up on the medic. Still in facedown position, one of the officers put a spit hood on Turner. He stopped breathing. Responders tried to resuscitate him for 10 minutes but failed. Austin Turner was 23 years old.

A recent investigation led by The Associated Press, in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism, has highlighted a concerning trend across the US. Over the last 15 years, the practice of administering sedatives to individuals detained by police has quietly spread, raising questions about its efficacy, safety, and potential biases.

The investigation, spanning from 2012 to 2021, uncovered that at least 94 individuals died after being given sedatives and restrained by law enforcement, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the 1,000 deaths studied involving people subdued by police in non-lethal ways. Supporters view sedatives as quick treatment for drug-induced emergencies and psychotic episodes, protecting front-line workers from potential violence. Others argue that the medications should be limited or completely banned, as sedatives administered without consent could be highly dangerous during police encounters.

Racial Disparities Among The Dead

One of the striking findings of the investigation is the disproportionate impact on black individuals, with about half of those who died after sedation being black. This raises concerns about biased decision-making fueled by the controversial medical condition known as excited delirium, with symptoms like “superhuman strength” and high pain tolerance. Critics argue that this condition, often associated with racist stereotypes, may lead to biased assessments and decisions regarding who receives sedatives.

Although the ideal candidates for the sedatives are individuals at high risk of harming themselves or others, the report discovered that those who were low-risk were also given the medications.

Administration After Restraint and Potential Risks

The investigation revealed instances where sedatives were administered after individuals were already restrained, sometimes in ways that restricted their breathing. Naturally, the individual attempted to free themselves, which led to administering the injections, which further slowed breathing rates, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest within minutes.

In other instances, paramedics would administer the medications, violating the guidelines set for treatment, particularly when combined with other forms of restraint and without a proper understanding of the individual’s medical condition or potential substance interactions, which may lead to dangerous side effects.

The investigation found that the majority of those who died from sedatives during police encounters had been restrained facedown with their hands cuffed behind them, leading to a restriction of breathing. Administering sedatives on top of that could lead to eventual death due to a lack of oxygen and too much carbon dioxide.

Origins of Sedative Use and Shift in Medical Perspectives

The spread of sedative use by emergency medical responders outside of hospital settings stems from the now-discredited concept of excited delirium. This concept, once promoted by law enforcement leaders and medical organisations in the 2000s, advocated for sedation in cases of severe agitation or drug-induced behaviour instead of being tased.

In 2009, the American College of Emergency Physicians urged the use of ketamine, midazolam, and other drugs as a treatment for excited delirium. The EMS agencies swiftly adopted the protocols, despite drugs like ketamine, for instance, had not been studied properly.

However, recent shifts in medical perspectives, with organisations like the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American College of Emergency Physicians distancing themselves from excited delirium in 2023, have raised questions about the validity and safety of this approach.

Lack of Focus On Sedatives in Investigations

Despite the significant role sedatives play in a substantial number of deaths, they often receive little attention in death investigations. Austin Turner’s death was declared a result of “multiple drug toxicity,” but the AP investigation revealed that, according to former medical examiners, the police use of force contributed significantly to the 23-year-old’s death.

Police narratives may omit sedative use due to medical privacy concerns, and medical examiners may not always attribute deaths to the administration of sedatives, usually seen as treatments and rarely as possible factors leading to death.