Police Encounters Involving Injections of Sedatives

At least 94 people died after they were given sedatives and restrained by police from 2012 through 2021, according to findings by the AP in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. While supporters say sedatives enable rapid treatment for drug-related behavioral emergencies and psychotic episodes and protect front-line responders from violence. Critics say forced sedation should be strictly limited or banned, arguing the medications, given without consent, are too risky to be administered during police encounters. The investigation found that about half of those who died after injections were Black.