Harm Reduction Journal最新文献

{"title":"Mandatory verses voluntary self-tests for new online casino customers: effect on engagement, quality, gambling behavior and use of responsible gambling measures.","authors":"Jakob Jonsson, Nathan Lakew, Philip Lindner","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01173-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01173-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To combat the public health concern that is problem gambling, gambling operators are increasingly being required by legislation to exercise a duty of care obligation, including the provision of Responsible Gambling (RG) tools. Self-test assessments have long been a popular RG tool implemented by many operators, yet there has been scant empirical research on self-tests, including on how the method of delivery impacts engagement, quality, and subsequent gambling behavior. The main objective of the current study was to examine if the level of voluntariness to perform a self-test moderated these key outcomes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants in the study, 1800 new online customers at a leading Swedish gambling company, were randomized to one of three arms: No message (control), up to four messages inviting them to do a self-test, and one message with a mandatory (but technically possible to circumvent) self-test. The interventions were presented when the customer logged in.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that 38.9% in the mandatory group and 4.8% in the voluntary group completed the self-test, with indications of a somewhat lower quality of the test by the mandatory group. There was no difference in customer churn or gambling behavior, and only minor differences in use of RG-measures post intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We conclude that presentation format matters and can affect the use and quality of tests: gambling operators should exercise caution when interpreting non-risk assessment results derived solely from self-test tools, particularly mandatory ones, as it can result in inaccurate risk assessments that may mislead duty of care obligations. The balance between achieving high participation and maintaining quality (and thereby meaningfulness) is discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843787/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143467874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of UNODC/WHO S-O-S (stop-overdose-safely) training on opioid overdose knowledge and attitudes among people at high or low risk of opioid overdose in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine.","authors":"Paul Dietze, Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Gilberto Gerra, Vladimir Poznyak, Giovanna Campello, Wataru Kashino, Dzhonbek Dzhonbekov, Tetiana Kiriazova, Danil Nikitin, Assel Terlikbayeva, Kirsten Horsburgh, Anja Busse, Dzmitry Krupchanka","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01167-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01167-2","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an evidence-based strategy to reduce opioid overdose deaths in line with guidance provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). However, OEND effectiveness has rarely been examined in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The WHO/UNODC Stop Overdose Safely (S-O-S) project involved training of &gt; 14,000 potential opioid overdose witnesses in opioid overdose response (including the administration of naloxone) in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine. We examined the impact of training using the S-O-S training package, developed within the framework of the S-O-S project, on knowledge of and attitudes towards, opioid overdose as well as effective opioid overdose response amongst participants stratified by high and low personal risk of opioid overdose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Design and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A sample of S-O-S project participants were recruited into a cohort study to evaluate the effects of training using the S-O-S training package. Of these participants, 1481 at high or low personal risk of opioid overdose completed pre- and post-S-O-S training questionnaires that incorporated sections of the Brief Opioid Overdose Knowledge (BOOK) and Opioid Overdose Attitudes Scale (OOAS) instruments. Outcomes examined included overall scale scores as well as scores on instrument sub-scales. Mean change scores, stratified by personal risk of opioid overdose, were calculated and compared using repeated measures t-tests. Variation in overall change scores according to select participant characteristics (e.g., age, sex) was also examined using multivariable linear regression.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;After training there were increases in overall BOOK and OOAS mean scores with a similar pattern evident in mean scores for all instrument subscales. Observed changes were larger for participants at low personal risk of opioid overdose (between 11% and 112%, depending on measure) compared to those who were at high personal risk of overdose (between 5% and 33% depending on measure), reflecting higher baseline scores for those at high personal risk of opioid overdose. We observed few variations in change scores across other participant characteristics. However, amongst those at high personal risk of opioid overdose, no personal experience of an overdose (β=-0.3; 95%CI=-0.5-0) and not currently being in drug treatment (β=-0.6; 95%CI=-0.4-0.8) was associated with a higher BOOK change score. Reporting not having witnessed an overdose previously was associated with higher BOOK change scores amongst those at low personal opioid overdose risk (β = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.2-0.8). Not currently being in drug treatment (β=-1.3; 95%CI=-0.1-2.4) was associated with a higher OOAS change score amongst those at high personal risk of opioid overdose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion: &lt;/strong&gt;OEND training using the S-O-S training packa","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11841001/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143467873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and predictors of condom use among people who inject drugs in Georgia.","authors":"Maia Kajaia, Maia Butsashvili, Jack A DeHovitz, George Kamkamidze, Lasha Gulbiani, Tinatin Abzianidze, Mamuka Djibuti","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01171-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01171-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People who inject drugs (PWID) are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual behavior placing them at high risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs. This study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of inconsistent condom use with casual and/or paid sexual partners among PWID in Georgia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey was conducted among PWID in seven major cities of Georgia. Study design was cross-sectional with respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methodology. Data collection was carried out through individual face-to-face interviews. Of the 2005 PWID who participated in the study, we analyzed a subsample of 619 (30.9%) who reported having casual and/or paid sexual partners during the last 12 months and described prevalence and predictors of consistent condom use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Consistent condom use during casual and/or paid sex in past 12 months was reported by 49.4% of respondents. The likelihood of consistent use with casual and/or paid sexual partners was statistically significantly associated with residence, family income, drug use frequency, drug dependence and HIV risk self-perceptions. In multivariable analysis independent predictors of always using condom at casual/paid sex during the last 12 months were place of residence (aOR = 6.4; 95% CI: 3.2-12.7), family income (aOR = 2.1; 95% CI:1.3-3.5) and drug use frequency (aOR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study revealed low prevalence of consistent condom use with casual and/or paid sexual partners among PWID in Georgia. Integration of safe sex educational interventions in harm reduction services may improve the rates of condom use among PWID and should focus PWID with lower socio-economic status and residing outside capital city.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11844099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143467875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of resilience and coping to intersectional HIV prevention and drug-use stigma among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachian Ohio.","authors":"Stacy Endres-Dighe, Ana D Sucaldito, Renee McDowell, Anyssa Wright, Ashleigh LoVette, William C Miller, Vivian Go, Nisha Gottfredson O'Shea, Kathryn E Lancaster","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01160-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01160-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intersectional stigma of drug-use and HIV hinders provision and utilization of HIV prevention services for people who inject drugs (PWID), particularly within rural US communities. Resilience and coping may be critical for PWID to counter pervasive stigma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between October 2021 and July 2022, 35 in-depth interviews were conducted in Appalachian Ohio to understand the intersection of drug-use and HIV prevention stigma and how resilience and coping processes are displayed, shared, and enacted. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted, guided by Harper et al.'s four key resilience processes: (a) engaging in health-promoting cognitive processes, (b) enacting in health behavioral practices, (c) exchanging social support, and (d) empowering other PWID to engage in health behavior practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Resilience processes aligned with the Harper framework with additional coping processes identified, including anticipation strategies and maladaptive coping. Empowering other PWID emerged as a prominent resiliency process, often supported by systems of support like syringe service programs (SSPs), which provided resources and helped reduce stigma. However, bidirectional social support was constrained, as PWID frequently acted as providers of resources and referrals for peers despite limited knowledge of HIV prevention strategies and feeling unsupported themselves. Anticipation strategies were employed to manage anticipated stigma, including accessing support or, conversely, avoiding healthcare and refraining from disclosing drug use. Maladaptive coping included behaviors such as social isolation and self-administered medical care, highlighting critical gaps in opportunities to foster resilience.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings highlight that empowering peers and anticipation strategies can be key resilience processes, while maladaptive coping and limited bidirectional social support underscore the need for resilience-building and stigma-reduction interventions. Tailored systems of support for PWID in rural communities are critical to fostering adaptive coping and enhancing engagement with HIV prevention services.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"18"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11837303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143457597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization of drug checking services in Austria: a cross-sectional online survey.","authors":"Alexandra Karden, Tobias Fragner, Cornelia Feichtinger, Julian Strizek, Daragh T McDermott, Igor Grabovac","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01168-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01168-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The use of psychoactive substances is a key public health issue due to its impact on mental, physical, and social health. Integrated drug checking is a well-known harm reduction and addiction prevention measure and is currently implemented in four federal states in Austria. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of drug checking use among a web-survey sample of people who use drugs (PWUD) in Austria and to examine differences in socio-demographic and substance use characteristics between individuals with and without drug checking experience. In addition, reasons for not using these services are explored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A secondary data analysis of the Austrian data from the European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD), a targeted survey conducted between March and May 2021 was performed. Based on reported drug checking experience, the data set was divided into two groups - those with and without drug checking experience - and compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this web-survey sample of PWUD (n = 1113), 20.1% reported prior use of a drug checking service in Austria. The groups with drug checking experience (n = 224) and those without (n = 889) differed significantly in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in terms of age, household composition, highest level of education, employment status, region of residence, substance use prevalences and treatment experience. Participants who used cannabis only had significantly less experience with drug checking. No significant differences were found regarding gender and income. While logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between sociodemographic predictors and drug checking experience, this relationship was relatively weak. The main reasons for not having used the services yet included a high level of trust in the source of supply (68%), confidence in receiving high quality of substances (64%), and a lack of service availability near the place of residence (62%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results indicate that drug checking services are well-accepted and trusted but not equally accessed by and accessible to all PWUD. Specifically, people who use only cannabis and those residing with parents or in rural or small-town areas access services less. In conclusion, there is considerable potential for expanding the availability and accessibility of drug checking services in Austria, particularly to reach underserved groups of PWUD who could benefit from this intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"17"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11829356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143425263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addressing viral hepatitis C reinfections in a low-threshold programme for people who inject drugs in Slovenia.","authors":"Jasna Černoša, Jelka Meglič Volkar, Mario Poljak, Maja Pohar Perme, Jeffrey Victor Lazarus, Mojca Matičič","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01164-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01164-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a public health threat. Although therapy with direct-acting antivirals made its elimination possible, major challenges remain in treating vulnerable populations, such as people who inject drugs (PWID) enrolled in low-threshold programmes (LTPs). This study analysed the outcome of HCV management focused on HCV reinfection in a specifically designed model-of-care (MoC) for PWID in Slovenia, where treatment is prescribed without limitations, though only by specialist physicians.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positive users of a MoC, combining HCV management at Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana and LTP for PWID in 100 km distanced civil society organisation (CSO) Svit Koper, between January 2017 to December 2022, were included. The MoC enabled regular transportation of PWID between LTP and the Clinic, where specifically assigned services for individually tailored HCV management in cooperation with CSO were available. Data on participants´ demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics were collected partly retrospectively and prospectively, with a particular focus on HCV treatment outcome and reinfection status, and analysed accordingly.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 49 anti-HCV positive PWID with a mean age of 38.7 (standard deviation (SD) = 7.6) years at first visit. The majority was male (40/49, 81.6%); 16/49 (32.7%) experienced previous incarceration, 14/49 (28.6%) were experiencing homelessness, and 42/49 (85.7%) were receiving opioid agonist therapy. A total of 42/49 (83.7%) were HCV RNA-positive. Of them 36/42 (85.7%) started HCV treatment at a mean age of 42.7 (SD = 5.7) years and 33/36 (91.7%) completed treatment. Six (14.3%) HCV RNA-positive PWID died. Among 28/33 (84.9%) who achieved a sustained virological response 12 weeks post treatment, 6/28 (21.4%) presented with reinfection. The HCV reinfection rate was 13.3 per 100 - PY (95% confidence interval (CI) [6.0, 29.7]), the rate of positive HCV RNA re-test was 12.2 per 100 - PY (95%CI [7.7-16.7]), while hazard of reinfection in our cohort increased with time, with the estimated reinfection probability exceeding 0.5 at 4 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In marginalised population of PWID attending LTP, a sustainable HCV RNA re-screening and follow-up after HCV cure are necessary, as the risk of reinfection remains high.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11823079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143414043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limit-setting in online gambling: a comparative policy review of European approaches.","authors":"Virve Marionneau, Elli Luoma, Tobias Turowski, Tobias Hayer","doi":"10.1186/s12954-024-01150-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-024-01150-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Online gambling products involve a heightened risk of harm, but there are some possibilities to prevent and reduce these harms. Notably, mandatory identification in online gambling environments allows for a range of pre-commitment tools such as limit-setting. Previous research has found that limit-setting tools can be helpful, but effectiveness depends on how policies are outlined and implemented. Limits can be financial or temporal, voluntary or mandatory, and system-level or operator-based. The current paper presents a policy review of European approaches to limit-setting in online environments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We first compared legal provisions on pre-commitment and limit-setting in N = 30 European countries (27 European Union Member States, Great Britain, Norway, and Switzerland). Data were retrieved from Vixio Gambling Compliance country reports and verified against original legal texts. The analysis focused on financial, temporal, maximum wager limits, and any other limits pertaining to online gambling. Second, based on the policy review, we produced a more in-depth analysis of limit-setting provisions in countries with system-level pre-commitment (Finland, Norway, Germany).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results show important divergence in terms of limit-setting across Europe. While almost all countries (n = 27) have some form of limit-setting, implementation details vary. Financial limits can include loss limits (n = 15 countries), deposit limits (n = 18), and wagering limits (n = 14), with the majority of countries providing several types of financial limits. Temporal limits were available in ten countries. Eleven countries had some mandatory limits, in other countries operators were expected to provide the option to set limits. Statutory maximum limits and lower limits for young adults were not common, but available in some countries. Germany was the only country with a system-level limit-setting scheme that covered multiple licensed operators.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Contextual variations in pre-commitment and limit-setting policies are likely to impact effectiveness in terms of preventing and reducing harm. Our review shows some promising practices, including system-level regimes, mandatory policies, reasonable maximum caps on limits and wagers, the possibility to set limits for various time periods, lower limits for young adults, and coupling limit-setting with other duty-of-care obligations. Learning from other jurisdictions can constitute good practice for future policies on pre-commitment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11823029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143414069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opioid consumption frequency and its associations with potential life problems during opioid agonist treatment in individuals with prescription-type opioid use disorder: exploratory results from the OPTIMA Study.","authors":"Anne Bouthillier, Gabriel Bastien, Christina McAnulty, Hamzah Bakouni, Bernard Le Foll, M Eugenia Socias, Didier Jutras-Aswad","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01157-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01157-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Traditional treatment approaches for prescription-type opioid use disorder (POUD), centered on abstinence, have limitations and hinder the development of interventions that meet the needs of people with POUD. Reduction in use without complete abstinence presents a promising avenue for intervention enhancement, but supporting data is scarce regarding its translation into positive patient outcomes. This study explores whether reducing opioid use frequency (OUF) during opioid agonist treatment correlates with reduced potential life problems in individuals with POUD, including those using fentanyl.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study is an exploratory analysis of the OPTIMA trial, a pragmatic, open-label, randomized controlled study comparing the effectiveness of flexible take-home dosing of buprenorphine/naloxone and supervised methadone in reducing opioid use amongst individuals with POUD. OUF was assessed every two weeks for 24 weeks after treatment initiation using the Timeline Followback. Potential life problems were evaluated at baseline and study completion using the Addiction Severity Index Self-Report. The 114 participants who completed both baseline and end-of-study questionnaires were included. A repeated-measures generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to evaluate the influence of OUF on potential life problems.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Reducing OUF was significantly associated with fewer problems related to medical status (p = 0.049), psychiatric status (p = 0.019), and alcohol problem severity (p = 0.001). The interaction was non-significant for employment (p = 0.264), family status (p = 0.352) and legal status (p = 0.050). Life improvements emerged with ≤ 21 days of opioid use per 28-day period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings underscore the significance of harm reduction goals focusing on opioid use reduction, which translated in improvements across many life domains.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03033732) prior to participant enrollment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"14"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11806552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143373593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.","authors":"Alexis E Horace, Ojochogwu Atawodi-Alhassan","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01161-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01161-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019 and 2022. A pharmacist-led opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program was developed at a SSP in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research is to characterize the clients who participated in the OEND and to assess their learned knowledge and behaviors over time.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A pharmacist led OEND program was created in April 2020 at a syringe service program (SSP) in New Orleans, Louisiana. OEND was provided by a licensed pharmacist and student pharmacists. OEND coincided with the SSPs activities one time a week. Participants first received harm reduction supplies through the SSP and then had the option of receiving OEND. Patients' demographic information was collected. Participants who said they received opioid overdose education from our OEND program were verbally given a knowledge and behavior assessment. Participants knowledge and behaviors were scored using a rubric.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 32 OEND sessions were held from July 2020 through February 2023 resulting in 1453 overall participant interactions. Repeat participants completed 269 visits and averaged 2.3 visits in three years. The average age of participants who received OEND was 40 years old. Additionally, participants who accessed OEND were primarily white (67.77%, n = 811/1300) and mostly male (59.15%, n = 769/1300). Among the participants who visited the OEND station more than once, 160 responses were collected for how helpful the previous education session had been. Of these responses, 75% (= 120/160) were \"Very helpful\". Participants who repeated the program retained knowledge and showed a positive change in their behaviors regarding opioid overdose reversal.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>OEND programs established at SSPs play an important role in providing education to PWUD. Participants knowledge sustained over time; however, refresher education sessions may be valuable to ensure participants stay accurately informed. Participants find OEND helpful. As naloxone continues to become increasingly available, OEND is necessary in preventing opioid overdose deaths.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11786467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143074735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to uptake of harm reduction techniques for GBMSM who use drugs in night-clubs and sex-on-premises venues in London and the Southeast: a mixed-methods, qualitative study.","authors":"Stephen Naulls, K Oniti, J Eccles, J M Stone","doi":"10.1186/s12954-025-01159-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12954-025-01159-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Drug-related harm is a significant public health concern in the UK, particularly among underserved groups such as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This study explores the role of night-time venues (for example night clubs or sex-on-premises venues) in promoting harm reduction strategies for GBMSM who use drugs, highlighting unique challenges within these spaces.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study used a mixed-methods approach, including an online survey (n = 53) and semi-structured interviews (n = 8). Participants included GBMSM with lived experience of substance use in night-time venues, as well as those providing support to this population. Data was collected through a Likert-scale survey and thematic analysis of qualitative responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings reveal dissatisfaction among survey respondents about the level of support for harm reduction provided by night-time venues, which are perceived as inconsistent in their approach towards substance use. The study also identifies economic and legal barriers faced by venues that prevent the endorsement of harm reduction techniques.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Addressing these barriers could transform night-time venues into effective sites for harm reduction, particularly by targeting \"afters\" culture (the phenomenon where club-goers will return to a residential setting and continue substance use for prolonged periods 'after' the night-time venue closes or the event ends) and promoting safer practices. This research suggests that coordinated efforts with local government and policy reform are crucial to fostering safer environments for GBMSM.</p>","PeriodicalId":12922,"journal":{"name":"Harm Reduction Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11786357/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143074736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}