Harm reduction in substance use: perspectives and experiences of community volunteers and student interns in Durban, South Africa.

Background: Substance abuse is a significant public health concern globally, exposing individuals to substantial health risks and mortality. Despite the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions, they remain limited and inadequately accessible in South Africa, where substance use prevalence is increasing. This study explores the perspectives of community volunteers and student interns on harm reduction and its interventions using Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre as a case study.

Methods: This qualitative study employed a cross-sectional design, utilising thematic analysis to examine the views of 15 participants on harm reduction programs and their experiences within the harm reduction centre context.

Results: The findings indicate that harm reduction interventions have a positive impact on all stakeholders, fostering transformative attitudes toward substance use and promoting empathy and understanding. Our findings highlight four major themes: the client-focused nature of harm reduction interventions, their ability to reduce stigma and discrimination against marginalised populations, their capacity-building nature, and ability to reduce substance abuse-related harm.

Conclusion: This study highlights the value of harm reduction programs in addressing substance use challenges, emphasizing client-centered care, capacity building, and stigma reduction. The findings provide a valuable model for resource-constrained environments, informing policy and practice to improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations.