Defending Syringe Services Programs

Oliva, Jennifer D.; El-Sabawi, Taleed; Canzater, Sonia L.; Weizman, Shelly

doi:10.1377/forefront.20210817.592015

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Additionally, P values bolded for significant associations between program types and select characteristics < 0.05 or P < 0.001 1 Derived from questions about most recent use of any non-prescribed drugs via swallowing, snorting/sniffing, injection, or smoking 2 Includes heroin, prescription opioids or fentanyl used alone or in combination with other drugs programs have been historically banned from accessing federal and local funds for SSPs; programs have had to depend on scarce funds acquired a combination of small grants, individual donations, and charitable foundations [4,25]. The Biden Administration's 2021 American Rescue Act was the first federal action to allocate targeted funding toward harm reduction services and SSPs [25,26]. While this was an important step to potentially help scale up these services, local and national resistance and stigma to these programs remains persistent (highlighted by the recent resistance to federal funding sterile pipes [27]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersecting substance use treatment and harm reduction services: exploring the characteristics and service needs of a community-based sample of people who use drugs

et al. 2022

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Background Substance use treatment and harm reduction services are essential components of comprehensive strategies for reducing the harms of drug use and overdose. However, these services have been historically siloed, and there is a need to better understand how programs that serve people who use drugs (PWUD) are integrating these services. In this study, we compared treatment and harm reduction services offered by a multistate sample of substance use service providers and assessed how well they align with characteristics and needs of clients they serve early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We recruited a convenience sample of programs that deliver harm reduction and/or treatment services in ten US states. Program directors participated in a survey assessing the services offered at their program. We also recruited clients of these programs to participate in a survey assessing a range of sociodemographic and health characteristics, substance use behaviors, and health service utilization. We then cross-compared client characteristics and behaviors relative to services being offered through these programs. Results We collected and analyzed data from 511 clients attending 18 programs that we classified as either offering treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (N = 6), syringe service programs (SSP) (N = 8), or offering both MOUD and SSP (N = 4). All programs delivered a range of treatment and harm reduction services, with MOUD & SSP programs delivering the greatest breadth of services. There were discrepancies between services provided and characteristics and behaviors reported by clients: 80% of clients of programs that offered MOUD without SSP actively used drugs and 50% injected drugs; 40% of clients of programs that offered SSP without MOUD sought drug treatment services. Approximately half of clients were unemployed and unstably housed, but few programs offered direct social services. Conclusions In many ways, existing programs are not meeting the service needs of PWUD. Investing in innovative models that empower clients and integrate a range of accessible and flexible treatment, harm reduction and social services can pave the way for a more effective and equitable service system that considers the long-term health of PWUD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersecting substance use treatment and harm reduction services: exploring the characteristics and service needs of a community-based sample of people who use drugs

et al. 2022

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“…More broadly, restrictions on "drug paraphernalia," such as fentanyl and other drug harm-reduction supplies, represent an additional mechanism through which drug use is criminalized, leading to increases in morbidity and mortality. As of 2021, fentanyl test strips and other forms of harm reduction are now available for federal funding, 132 which is a promising sign that availability and access may increase across the United States. Yet, further investment into safe, affordable, and accurate tests for the drug supply remains an urgent need.…”

Section: Ongoing Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of the United States Overdose Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

Cerdá¹,

Krawczyk²,

Keyes

2023

Milbank Quarterly

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People are dying at record numbers from overdose in the United States. Concerted action has led to a number of successes, including reduced inappropriate opioid prescribing and increased availability of opioid use disorder treatment and harm‐reduction efforts, yet ongoing challenges include criminalization of drug use and regulatory and stigma barriers to expansion of treatment and harm‐reduction services. Priorities for action include investing in evidence‐based and compassionate policies and programs that address sources of opioid demand, decriminalizing drug use and drug paraphernalia, enacting policies to make medication for opioid use disorder more accessible, and promoting drug checking and safe drug supply.

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“…These programs primarily rely upon grants from the private sector, local or state government funds, and/ or donations (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020). The federal government has generally eschewed funding harm reduction services, including a decades-long prohibition on using federal funds to purchase needles and other drug supplies (Oliva et al, 2021). Recently, the federal government allocated a modest, though historical, one-time infusion of $30 million for a national harm reduction grant program to fund 25 programs across the country.…”

Section: Patchwork Of Funding For Treatment and Harm Reductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decriminalization of drug possession in Oregon: Analysis and early lessons

Russoniello

Vakharia

Netherland

et al. 2023

Drug Science, Policy and Law

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In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 110, a ballot initiative that decriminalized possession of small quantities of all drugs and allocated hundreds of millions of dollars annually to health services for people who use drugs. Implementation of Measure 110 is ongoing, but several effects are noticeable in the first two years since the measure passed. Among these are substantial decreases in possession of controlled substances arrests and an infusion of funding into harm reduction services that have not traditionally enjoyed a sustainable funding source. This paper analyzes the provisions of Measure 110, examines its early impacts, successes, and challenges, and outlines lessons that jurisdictions contemplating decriminalizing drug possession in the U.S. and globally should consider.

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Defending Syringe Services Programs

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Intersecting substance use treatment and harm reduction services: exploring the characteristics and service needs of a community-based sample of people who use drugs

Intersecting substance use treatment and harm reduction services: exploring the characteristics and service needs of a community-based sample of people who use drugs

The Future of the United States Overdose Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

Decriminalization of drug possession in Oregon: Analysis and early lessons

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