Supervised smoking facility access, harm reduction practices, and substance use changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a community-engaged cross-sectional study

Harm Reduction Journal

Research

Jonah Hamilton¹  Jenna van Draanen²  Seonaid Nolan³  Lindsey Richardson⁴  Jeffrey Morgan⁵  Scott Maxwell⁶  Tara Taylor⁷ 

[1] BC Centre On Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;BC Centre On Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, Health Sciences Building, University of Washington, Box 357262, 98195-0005, Seattle, WA, USA;BC Centre On Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, V5Z 1M9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;BC Centre On Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, V6T 1Z1, Vancouver, BC, Canada;BC Centre On Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Overdose Prevention Participatory Research Assistant Program, Overdose Prevention Society, 58 E Hastings St, V6A 1N1, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Overdose Prevention Participatory Research Assistant Program, Overdose Prevention Society, 58 E Hastings St, V6A 1N1, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Spencer Creo Foundation, 500-610 Main St, V6A 2V3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;

关键词: Supervised inhalation site;    Supervised consumption site;    Overdose prevention;    Poisoning;    Harm reduction;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12954-023-00825-7

 received in 2023-01-05, accepted in 2023-07-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe potential public health benefits of supervised smoking facilities (SSFs) are considerable, and yet implementation of SSFs in North America has been slow. We conducted this study to respond to significant knowledge gaps surrounding SSF utilization and to characterize substance use, harm reduction practices, and service utilization following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA questionnaire was self-administered at a single site by 175 clients using an outdoor SSF in Vancouver, Canada, between October–December 2020. Questionnaire responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multinomial logistic regression techniques were used to examine factors associated with increased SSF utilization.ResultsAlmost all respondents reported daily substance use (93% daily use of opioids; 74% stimulants). Most used opioids (85%) and/or methamphetamine (66%) on the day of their visit to the SSF. Respondents reported drug use practice changes at the onset of COVID-19 to reduce harm, including using supervised consumption sites, not sharing equipment, accessing medically prescribed alternatives, cleaning supplies and surfaces, and stocking up on harm reduction supplies. Importantly, 45% of SSF clients reported using the SSF more often since the start of COVID-19 with 65.2% reporting daily use of the site. Increased substance use was associated with increased use of the SSF, after controlling for covariates.ConclusionsClients of the SSF reported increasing not only their substance use, but also their SSF utilization and harm reduction practices following the onset of COVID-19. Increased scope and scale of SSF services to meet these needs are necessary.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 3