Perceptions of Overdose Response Hotlines and Phone Application Services Among Women and Gender-diverse Individuals Who Use Drugs in Canada: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Objectives: In 2021, opioid-related deaths have increased by 96% and continue to be higher than prepandemic levels. In particular, women and gender-diverse individuals face numerous challenges when assessing harm reduction supports, including physical supervised consumption sites, compared with male counterparts. Mobile overdose response services (MORSs) including overdose response hotlines and phone-based overdose response applications are novel virtual overdose response technologies that may help mitigate this issue. This study aims to explore how women and gender-diverse individuals engage with and perceive these services.

Methods: A qualitative study using grounded theory was conducted. Using existing peer networks and purposive and snowball sampling between March and July 2023, 19 semistructured interviews were conducted with women and gender-diverse individuals in Canada who have lived experience using substances. NVivo was used for thematic analysis, which continued until saturation was reached.

Results: The interviews elucidated the following 5 themes: Overdose response hotlines and applications were generally preferred over supervised consumption sites due to (1) perceived gender-based safety; (2) better accommodation for mothers concerned with stigma, childcare, and child welfare systems; and (3) eased accessibility for those involved in sex work. It was also noted that (4) judgment-free spaces and trauma-informed care provided by staff with lived experiences were invaluable, and (5) decriminalization of illicit substances will encourage uptake of these harm reduction services.

Conclusion: This study found that women and gender-diverse individuals felt positively toward overdose response hotlines and applications with the potential to fill a need in providing harm reduction services that create feelings of safety, support roles of motherhood and sex work, and generate nonstigmatizing spaces.