Risk mitigation guidance and safer supply prescribing among young people who use drugs in the context of COVID-19 and overdose emergencies

Giang, Karen; Charlesworth, Reith; Thulien, Madison; Mulholland, Alanna; Barker, Brittany; Brar, Rupinder; Pauly, Bernie; Fast, Danya

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104023

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 60 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…These contrasting experiences with medicalization and structure point to the need to implement alternative, innovative models of safer supply that would allow participants to have agency and autonomy over their lives. This could include looking at options for non-prescribed safer supply models, such as compassion clubs, where participants can access their safer supply without needing a prescription [28,33,[35][36][37][38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“And this is the life jacket, the lifeline they’ve been wanting”: Participant perspectives on navigating challenges and successes of prescribed safer supply

Henderson,

Marris,

Woodend

2024

PLoS ONE

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Background In 2021, 43% of drug toxicity deaths in Ontario were reported by public health units serving medium-sized urban and rural communities. Safer supply programs (SSPs) have been primarily established in large urban centres. Given this, the current study is based on an evaluation of a SSP based in a medium-sized urban centre with a large catchment area that includes rural and Indigenous communities. The aim of this research paper is to understand the challenges and successes of the nurse practitioner-led SSP from the perspective of program participants. Methods Interpretive description was used to understand the experiences of 14 participants accessing a SSP. Each participant was interviewed using a semi-structured approach, and 13 of the interviewees also completed surveys accessed through Qualtrics. An iterative process using NVivo software was used to code interviews, and a constant comparative data analysis approach was used to refine and categorize codes to themes. Findings Three overarching themes were the result of this analysis: feeling better, renewed hope, and safety. These three themes capture the experiences of participants in the SSP, including both the challenges and successes they faced. Conclusion The findings and subsequent discussion focus on both the key best practices of the program, and areas for future development and improvement. Despite barriers to services, prescribed SSPs are improving the lives of people who use drugs, and the current outcomes align with reports and evaluations from other SSPs across Canada.

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