Meeting Summary – March 2022: Supervised Consumption Sites for Women

May 5, 2022 | Meeting Summary

Article

Bardwell, G., Austin, T., Maher, L., & Boyd, J. (2021). Hoots and harm reduction: a qualitative study identifying gaps in overdose prevention among women who smoke drugs. Harm reduction journal, 18(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00479-3

Article Summary

 While supervised consumption services have been increasingly more common throughout the United States due to changing policy, smoking and/or inhaling illicit drugs is often prohibited at these sites. The authors of this article also reported that women are frequently underrepresented at supervised consumptions services. The authors used observational and qualitative research methods to examine women’s experiences smoking illicit drugs, including their utilization of a women-only supervised inhalation site. Data from these observations and interviews were coded and analyzed to identify common themes informed by gendered and socio-structural understandings of violence. The authors aimed to understand structural violence given the prevalence of such amongst women who use drugs.
The results of this study indicated that women’s preferences for smoking drugs were often shaped by limited income, inability to inject substances, and perceptions of overdose risk. The authors also noted that participants expressed the need for women-specific services due to experiences of gendered, race-based, and structural violence. The results of this qualitative study led to the authors’ making recommendation for women-specific supervised consumption services to better meet the needs of this population.

Key Themes and Discussion Summary

Lack of Services

In discussing the article, group attendees noted the difference in number of services available to men versus women. For instance, a group attendee noted that while there are 40 certified recovery houses for men in Rhode Island, there are only 10 for women.

Supervised Consumption Sites

Group members discussed how people have different perspective surrounding smoking versus injecting substances, and which or both should be allowed at supervised consumption sites. One group member noted that some individuals believe that smoking is safer than injecting substances, and thus smoking could be viewed by some as a form of harm reduction.

Harm Reduction Stigma

Group members discussed the stigma widely attached to harm reduction, especially in political contexts. Group members identified that harm reduction may be viewed as a positive in community contexts, but as a negative within political contexts where there is stigma associated with harm reduction practices

Need for Community Input

The article being discussed focuses on selection of medication when entering treatment, but not selection in continued treatment. Group attendees highlighted this limitation in the study and acknowledged how selection and experiences may differ for individuals first entering treatment versus those who have been in treatment for a longer period of time.

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