“We’ve lost a lot of lives:” The Impact of the Closure of North America’s Busiest Supervised Consumption Site on People Who Use Substances and the Organizations that Work with Them
Abstract
Background
Supervised
Consumption
Sites
(SCSs)
are
an
evidence-based
harm
reduction
strategy
to
reduce
the
risk
of
fatal
drug
poisonings.
However,
this
approach
has
faced
political
opposition
in
Canada,
resulting
closures
SCSs
some
provinces.
Our
study
aims
add
understanding
impact
SCS
by
exploring
perspectives
both
people
who
use
substances
(PWUS)
and
staff
members
organizations
that
continue
provide
services.
explores
aftermath
closure
what
was
once
North
America’s
busiest
SCS,
located
Lethbridge,
Alberta,
offering
a
contextualized
exploration
regressive
policies.
Methods
To
better
understand
closure,
our
adopts
descriptive
qualitative
design
explore
novel
phenomenon
within
unique
context
Alberta.
We
conducted
27
interviews
with
PWUS
10
Staff
Members
harm-reduction
chose
reflexive
thematic
analysis
(TA),
which
allows
for
critical
realist
contextual
data
analysis.
Results
developed
three
themes
based
on
first
theme
speaks
harms
Next,
second
highlights
participants
motivations
behind
ARCHES
closure.
last
how
navigate
approaches
while
responding
worsening
poisoning
crisis.
Conclusions
continued
need
expand
services
ongoing
advocacy
reverse
policy
decisions.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Jan. 15, 2025
Language: Английский