RT Article
T1 Context of Substance Use: Harm Reduction and Safer Supply
JF Journal of drug issues
VO 55
IS 3
SP 365
OP 378
A1 Haines, Marlene
A1 O'Byrne, Patrick
A2 O'Byrne, Patrick
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1929300646
AB Canada continues to be in the midst of an ongoing unregulated drug poisoning crisis, with over 40,000 opioid-related deaths since 2016. To develop a better understanding of the context of drug use, we interviewed safer supply program participants in Ottawa, Canada. Data collection included semi-structured interviews which were analyzed thematically. Overall, 2 major themes arose, which included 1) the historical and ongoing effects of trauma, and 2) a cycle of drug use that overwhelmed them. From this, a framework was created which depicts the context of substance use. Our research reinforced the importance of considering the historical and ongoing effects of trauma on the lives of people who use drugs when developing harm reduction and substance use programs. Further, participants found safer supply programs to be useful in disrupting a cycle of drug use they felt trapped in and allowed them a sense of autonomy regarding their drug use.
K1 safer supply
K1 people who use drugs
K1 Harm Reduction
K1 Drug use
K1 Substance Use
K1 drug poisoning crisis
DO 10.1177/00220426241231499