Substance Use Stigma and Community Drug Checking: A Qualitative Study Examining Barriers and Possible Responses

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dc.contributor.authorDavis, Samantha
dc.contributor.authorWallace, Bruce
dc.contributor.authorVan Roode, Thea
dc.contributor.authorHore, Dennis
dc.date.accessioned2023-10-15T13:57:17Z
dc.date.available2023-10-15T13:57:17Z
dc.date.copyright2022en_US
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractBackground: Community drug checking is an emerging response to the overdose crisis. However, stigma has been identified as a potential barrier to service use that requires investigation. Methods: A qualitative study explored how best to implement drug checking services to the wider population including those at risk of overdose. A secondary analysis of 26 interviews with potential service users examine how stigma may be a barrier to service use and strategies to address this. A Substance Use Stigma Framework was developed to guide analysis. Results: Drug checking is operating in a context of structural stigma produced by criminalization. People fear criminal repercussions, anticipate stigma when accessing services, and internalize stigma resulting in shame and avoidance of services. A perceived hierarchy of substance use creates stigma results in stigma between service users and avoidance of sites associated with certain drugs. Participants frequently recommended drug checking to be located in more public spaces that still maintain privacy. Conclusions: Criminalization and societal views on substance use can deter service use. Strategies to mitigate stigma include employment of people with lived and living experience from diverse backgrounds; public yet private locations that preserve anonymity; and normalization of drug checking while decriminalization could address the root causes of stigma.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the Health Canada Substance Use and Addictions Program under grant SUAP: 1819-HQ-000042, the Vancouver Foundation under grant VF: UNR17-0265, and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)’s Pathway to Patient-Oriented Research Award: 18203.en_US
dc.identifier.citationDavis, S. I., Wallace, B., Van Roode, T., & Hore, D. K. (2022). Substance Use Stigma and Community Drug Checking: A qualitative study examining barriers and possible responses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15978. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315978en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315978
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/15530
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Healthen_US
dc.subjectsubstance abuse stigma
dc.subjectdrug checking
dc.subjectsubstance abuse
dc.subjectharm reduction
dc.subjectoverdose
dc.subjectfentanyl
dc.subjectCanadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Social Work
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Chemistry
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Computer Science
dc.titleSubstance Use Stigma and Community Drug Checking: A Qualitative Study Examining Barriers and Possible Responsesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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