Harm reduction must be recognised an essential public health intervention during crises

Csák, Róbert; Shirley-Beavan, Sam; McHenry, Arielle Edelman; Daniels, Colleen; Burke-Shyne, Naomi

doi:10.1186/s12954-021-00573-6

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These constraints, paired with an increased need to provide flexible syringe distribution in light of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, left several programs unable to offer program participants the volume of syringes needed to avoid syringe reuse. This example and other data from this study highlight how COVID-19 has reinforced the pathways between structural-level stigma (e.g., policies that limit syringe distribution flexibility) and individual-level harms for PWUD ( Collins et al, 2022 ; Wilkinson et al, 2020 ; Broz et al, 2021 ; Csak et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Barriers to engaging people who use drugs in harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of syringe services program perspectives

Austin¹,

Corcorran²,

Briggs³

et al. 2022

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Barriers to engaging people who use drugs in harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of syringe services program perspectives

Austin¹,

Corcorran²,

Briggs³

et al. 2022

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Indeed, a previous study suggested that multi services are more e cient than single services to help PWUD [30]. Finally, as with most HR services, mail-based HR structures may be threatened by the risk of funding limitations [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mail-based harm reduction services are key solutions to reduce the impact of COVID-19-like crises on people who use drugs: evidence from two independent structures in France and in the USA

Torres-Leguizamon¹,

Favaro

Coello

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Harm Reduction (HR) policies for People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) have a significant positive impact on their health. Such approaches limit the spread of infections and reduce opioid overdose mortality. These policies have led to the opening of specialized centers located mainly in big cities and urbanized zones. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced access to HR centers in locations undergoing lockdown. Before the pandemic, HR services in France and in the USA were complemented by the development of remote HR programs: HaRePo (Harm Reduction by Post) for France, implemented in 2011, and NEXT Distro for the USA founded in 2017. These programs are free and specifically designed for people who have difficulties accessing HR tools and counseling in-person. PWUD can access HaRePo program by phone and/or email. NEXT Distro users can access the program through its dedicated website. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns have drastically impacted the HR services in both countries and many HR centers were forced to adapt their activities. Methods: Here, we analyzed how lockdowns impacted the number of new users entering the programs, the numbers of parcels sent and naloxone distributed using the records of both structures. With the ability to reach PWUD remotely, HaRePo and NEXT Distro were particularly effective at maintaining service continuity and scaling up services to meet the needs of PWUD during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: By comparing previous year’s data average with a 95% confidence interval, we showed that the activity of both programs were significantly impacted by the pandemic. Both show an increase in new users joining the programs as well as the number of parcels sent per month. It shows that remote HR was able to partially compensate for the reduced HR activities due to COVID-19. We also observed that the distribution of naloxone per parcel tends to increase for both structures. Conclusion: By studying two independent structures in France and in the USA sharing similar objectives (remote HR), we showed that this approach can be a key solution to crises that impact classical HR structures despite various differences in operating procedures between countries.

show abstract

“…Author details 1 Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Epidemiological Surveillance Service, Barcelona, Spain. 2 Public Health Agency of Catalonia -Programme On Addictions, HIV, STI and Viral Hepatitis, Barcelona, Spain.…”

Section: Author Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harm reduction services for PUD are a front-line public health interventions. They serve a population that due to stigma, discrimination and criminalisation, face barriers to accessing health and social services and are particularity vulnerable in public health crises [ 2 ]. The lockdown measures limited access to substances and also access to resources, including HR services [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services in Catalonia: the experience of people who use drugs and harm reduction professionals

Bosch-Arís

Gasulla²,

Gispert³

et al. 2022

Harm Reduct J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Harm reduction services and professionals have had to reorganise and adapt to COVID-19 prevention measures while still ensuring health and social services for people who use drugs (PUD). Objective To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PUD and on the professionals who provide harm reduction services. Methods A qualitative, exploratory, multicentre design was used. Two focus groups were held with harm reduction professionals, and 40 individual semi-structured interviews were undertaken with PUD in various harm reduction services in Catalonia. Interviews and focus group discussions were transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Harm reduction services adapted to the pandemic situation by employing methods such as reducing opening hours and closing drop in areas, along with health protection measures such as access control, which in turn led to stress among both professionals and service users. Despite the changes implemented, PUD continued to have access to sterile drug use equipment and methadone treatment. In addition, those who were not in treatment were able to access it rapidly. Regarding their emotional state, the PUD reported that it was worse during the pandemic than before the lockdown, with women affected to a greater extent than men. The harm reduction professionals reported difficulties in managing service users’ compliance with the security measures at the beginning of the lockdown and having had to focus primarily on providing food and shelter for the PUD. Conclusions It is important to keep PUD in mind and maintain a harm reduction perspective when implementing confinement measures in situations such as those experienced during the COVID pandemic. Guaranteeing that PUD have their basic needs such as food, hygiene and shelter covered is key.

show abstract

Harm reduction must be recognised an essential public health intervention during crises

Cited by 12 publications

References 2 publications

Barriers to engaging people who use drugs in harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of syringe services program perspectives

Barriers to engaging people who use drugs in harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of syringe services program perspectives

Mail-based harm reduction services are key solutions to reduce the impact of COVID-19-like crises on people who use drugs: evidence from two independent structures in France and in the USA

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services in Catalonia: the experience of people who use drugs and harm reduction professionals

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About