Perceptions of Overdose Response Hotlines and Phone Application Services Among Women and Gender-diverse Individuals Who Use Drugs in Canada: A Qualitative Study.
J Addict Med
; 2024 May 24.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38785357
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.
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1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Addict Med
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos