Program Adaptations to Provide Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Syringe Services Programs in the U.S

• Published in: AIDS and behavior Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 57 - 68
• Main Authors: Frost, Madeline C., Sweek, Elsa W., Austin, Elizabeth J., Corcorran, Maria A., Juarez, Alexa M., Frank, Noah D., Prohaska, Stephanie M., LaKosky, Paul A., Asher, Alice K., Broz, Dita, Jarlais, Don C. Des, Williams, Emily C., Glick, Sara N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation; Blood diseases; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drugs; Emergency response; Harm Reduction; Health behavior; Health Psychology; Hepatitis C; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Leadership; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mental health services; Needle exchange programs; Opioids; Original Paper; Overdose; Pandemics; Public Health; Qualitative research; SARS-CoV-2; Service restoration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Syringes; United States > US; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Syringe services programs; Syringe exchange
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03332-7

Syringe services programs (SSPs) are essential to preventing injection drug use-related infections and overdose death among people who use drugs (PWUD). The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic initially impeded SSPs’ operations. To effectively support these programs, information is needed regarding SSPs’ experiences adapting their services and the challenges posed by COVID-19. We conducted qualitative interviews with leadership and staff from a sample of 31 U.S. SSPs. Respondents discussed urgent concerns including reduced reach of services, suspended HIV/hepatitis C testing, high COVID-19 risk among PWUD, and negative impacts of isolation on overdose and mental health. They also noted opportunities to improve future services for PWUD, including shifting to evidence-based distribution practices and maintaining regulatory changes that increased access to opioid use disorder medications post-pandemic. Findings can inform efforts to support SSPs in restoring and expanding services, and provide insight into SSPs’ role in engaging PWUD during the COVID-19 response and future emergencies.