Community Perceptions of Harm Reduction and Its Implications for Syringe Exchange Policy

Abstract

<jats:p> In the United States, the rising prevalence of opioid addiction has led to an increase in opioid-related overdose deaths and transmission of infectious disease. This resulted in the declaration of a national public health emergency and the need for harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange. Florida has seen increases in blood-borne diseases and fatal/nonfatal opioid overdoses, yet harm reduction policy integration has been historically limited. To inform policy change, this study explores the perspectives of community members in Manatee County, Florida, on harm reduction services. Six focus groups were conducted with findings centralized around three emergent themes related to the implementation of a syringe exchange program: (a) awareness and acceptability; (b) facilitating factors; and (c) perceived barriers. The results of this qualitative research helped to inform the successful adoption of a local syringe exchange ordinance. Recommendations for community education and engagement regarding harm reduction policy are discussed. </jats:p>

Facilitators of and barriers to healthcare providers’ adoption of harm reduction in cannabis use: a scoping review protocol

“…Despite its proven effectiveness, the acceptability and applicability of HR by health and social services practitioners remain limited, and various factors facilitate or hinder its adoption 21 40–42. MacCoun43 showed that, among practitioners who did not adopt HR, some had based their decision on moral grounds, regardless of its effectiveness.…”

“…Practitioners may also fear the emergence of legal, social and health problems among their clients 28. Third, its adoption may be limited by contextual barriers, such as lack of funding, stigma that undermines demand for care, resistance from local jurisdictions, and lack of services and trained personnel, particularly in the mental health sector 41. Healthcare providers’ resistance to applying HR in cannabis use leads to limited knowledge and utilisation of effective HR techniques and guidelines among PWUC 5 25.…”

“…Despite its proven effectiveness, several reasons might hinder HR adoption by health professionals among PWUC 30 41. However, to date, there has been no review of the scientific literature that identifies the factors that facilitate or limit the adoption of HR in cannabis use.…”

Mechanisms for Expanding Harm Reduction for Opioid Use in Suburban and Rural U.S. Settings

“…Even with local approval and state funding, it may be difficult to sustain local efforts in sparsely populated areas. In rural and suburban locales, it is well known that low community support and community-level stigma further impede harm reduction implementation (Baker, Smith, Gulley, & Tomann, 2020; Ibragimov et al, 2021; Sharp, Barnett, & Vroom, 2020).…”

“…Even with local approval and state funding, it may be difficult to sustain local efforts in sparsely populated areas. In rural and suburban locales, it is well known that low community support and community-level stigma further impede harm reduction implementation (Baker, Smith, Gulley, & Tomann, 2020;Ibragimov et al, 2021;Sharp, Barnett, & Vroom, 2020). Logistic and funding constraints can limit harm reduction services in suburban and rural areas, especially when SSP budgets are based on the number of syringes exchanged (Des Jarlais et al, 2015).…”