Problemas ligados ao álcool em centros de emergência (PLACE)—People experiencing homelessness with alcohol-related problems in Lisbon's emergency shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic: a description and analysis of a harm reduction intervention

Azevedo, F.; Neto, Ana; Gama, Ana; Subtil, Ana; Fuertes, Ricardo; Pereira, Cláudia; Tavares, Joana; Medinas, R.; Silva, Ana V.; Dias, Sónia

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1165322

Cited by 2 publications

References 29 publications

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The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study

Rahmani,

Janatolmakan,

Rezaei

et al. 2024

Harm Reduct J

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for managers overseeing women's harm reduction centers. This study seeks to capture managers' perspectives on the service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This convergent mixed-method study conducted in three provinces of Iran: Tehran, Khuzestan, and Kermanshah. The study was carried out between January and May 2023. In the quantitative part, the researchers utilized reports from 10 center managers. A researcher-designed questionnaire was employed to collect data on a wide range of services and referrals provided by the centers. The qualitative part of the research involved conventional content analysis and included 12 individual interviews. Two directors from the Ministry of Health and ten managers of women’s harm reduction centers participated in the interviews. During the interpretation phase, the researchers compared the quantitative and qualitative findings to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Results During the quantitative stage of the study, it was observed that all the managers were women, with an average age of 40.7 ± 7 years. More than half of the managers had obtained a postgraduate education (n = 6, 60%), and a majority of them were married (n = 7, 70%). Additionally, 40% of the managers (n = 4) were working as contractors. During the non-COVID-19 period, there were higher coverage by centers and residents, more referrals of non-injecting drug users and sex workers, and a higher number of group counseling sessions in all three provinces compared to the COVID-19 period. The qualitative analysis revealed two primary themes: "challenges" and "capabilities." Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, providing some services and client referrals decreased in the centers, and center managers faced increased challenges. Many of these challenges were in the communication, executive, management, structure, education, financial, civilization, facilities, and socio-cultural sectors. Managers used their skills to manage and control these challenges. It is important to focus on these challenges and managerial capabilities to effectively handle future crises.

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The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study

Rahmani,

Janatolmakan,

Rezaei

et al. 2024

Harm Reduct J

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City-level drug policies in Portugal: the COVID-19 pandemic as an analyser of harm reduction intervention responsiveness in Porto and Lisbon

Pires,

Curado,

Fuertes

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic health crisis and its potential implications for people who use drugs (PWUD) created permissive conditions toward social innovation and experimentation. Still, it also exposed gaps in harm reduction approaches. The local level situations informed the harm reduction responsiveness, so it was not applied uniformly in different regions. This paper intends to contribute to the analysis of harm reduction responsiveness during the COVID-19 outbreak by comparing the adaptations and implementation of harm reduction and municipal services to support street-involved PWUD in two Portuguese cities – Porto and Lisbon. This study aims to shed light on the city-level implementation of drug policies in Portugal. Methods This study is based on a comparative qualitative analysis based on the experiences of PWUD and HR professionals regarding the implementation of harm reduction responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Porto and Lisbon. The study is based on interviews with street-involved (SI) PWUD (n=22, 12 in Porto and 10 in Lisbon) and online focus groups with harm reduction professionals (N=12, 6 in Porto and 6 in Lisbon). Results Harm reduction teams in Porto and Lisbon implemented contingency plans and proactive adaptations to respond to the pandemic-related emerging needs. However, the study revealed contrasting experiences in the city-level support to harm reduction and responsiveness to the impacts of COVID-19 among SI PWUD in Porto and Lisbon. There were relevant differences in the support they received from the City Council and the city-level responses implemented to support street-involved (SI) PWUD. While the approach in Porto was described as restrictive and zero-tolerance towards drug use, in Lisbon, the responses were harm reduction-focused. The harm reduction-focused approach implemented in Lisbon revealed better results regarding the harm reduction responsiveness to the pandemic health crisis and adherence of SI PWUD to services, mostly because of their inclusive approaches. Conclusion The pandemic constraints and adaptations must be contextualized in an overall process of disinvestment in harm reduction in Portugal. Moreover, beyond the Portuguese drug policy model, city-level drug policies are crucial in the design and implementation of local drug policies.

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Problemas ligados ao álcool em centros de emergência (PLACE)—People experiencing homelessness with alcohol-related problems in Lisbon's emergency shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic: a description and analysis of a harm reduction intervention

Cited by 2 publications

References 29 publications

The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study

The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study

City-level drug policies in Portugal: the COVID-19 pandemic as an analyser of harm reduction intervention responsiveness in Porto and Lisbon

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