Implementing Canada’s first national virtual phone based overdose prevention service: lessons learned from creating the National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
Harm Reduction Journal,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
21(1)
Опубликована: Май 28, 2024
Abstract
The
opioid
epidemic
remains
one
of
the
largest
public
health
crises
in
North
America
to
date.
While
there
have
been
many
diverse
strategies
developed
reduce
harms
associated
with
substance
use,
these
are
primarily
concentrated
within
a
few
large
urban
centers.
As
result,
increased
calls
for
equitable
access
harm
reduction
services
those
who
cannot
or
choose
not
in-person
services.
In
December
2020,
Canada’s
National
Overdose
Response
Service
(NORS)
telephone
based
overdose
response
hotline
and
virtual
supervised
consumption
service,
was
established
collaboration
various
agencies
people
lived
living
experience
use
(PWLLE)
across
Canada
expand
using
novel
Opioid
Technology.
this
manuscript
we
explore
lessons
learned
from
establishment
continued
operation
service
exploring
topics
related
initial
securing
phone
line,
routing
technology,
EMS
dispatch
solutions,
peer
volunteer
recruitment,
legal
ethical
support,
policy
procedure
development,
funding,
marketing.
Furthermore,
detail
how
has
grown
changed
needs
users.
Язык: Английский
Predictors of overdose response hotline use for mental health and fatal overdose prevention
Can J Public Health,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Фев. 18, 2025
Abstract
Objectives
The
overdose
crisis
remains
one
of
the
largest
public
health
issues
facing
North
America
to
date.
Formalized
virtual
spotting
services
have
gained
popularity
as
a
harm
reduction
intervention,
proving
early
effectiveness
in
reducing
mortality.
This
study
determined
characteristics
individuals
who
recurrently
use
such
service,
Canada’s
National
Overdose
Response
Service
(NORS).
Methods
In
this
retrospective
study,
call
logs
from
NORS
were
analyzed
service
inception.
Demographics
including
age,
gender,
province,
community
size,
substance
used,
routes
administration,
and
adverse
events
all
collected
imputed
into
marginal
means
rates
model
determine
predictors
recurrent
use.
Results
A
total
7340
unique
calls
included
within
our
analysis.
Of
those,
1167
(15.8%)
reported
their
gender
male,
3744
(51.0%)
female,
1329
(18.1%)
diverse,
1100
(14.9%)
did
not
report
gender.
terms
46
(0.6%)
under
age
18
years,
3561
(48.5%)
between
30,
557
(7.6%)
31
40,
2505
(34.1%)
41
50,
525
(7.1%)
51
or
over,
146
(2.0%)
age.
Men’s
rate
ratios
for
significantly
lower
than
women’s
(RR
=
0.08,
95%
CI
0.07‒0.09),
those
respondents
aged
31‒40
years
compared
with
18‒30
0.26,
0.15‒0.45).
Between
regions,
callers
British
Columbia
0.28,
0.17‒2.24)
Atlantic
provinces
0.09;
0.07‒0.12)
province
Ontario.
Similarly,
rural
demonstrated
0.08;
0.07‒0.11)
urban
counterparts.
Conclusion
demonstrates
higher
usage
patterns
certain
demographic
groups,
particular,
women.
results
can
therefore
be
used
target
messaging
toward
derive
most
benefit
tailor
programming
are
at
highest
risk
alone.
Язык: Английский
Perspectives of Key Partners on Improving Awareness of Virtual Harm Reduction Services: A Qualitative Study
Substance Use & Misuse,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown, С. 1 - 9
Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2025
Supervised
Consumption
Sites
(SCS)
have
proven
effective
in
reducing
overdose-related
deaths
by
providing
safe
spaces
for
people
who
use
substances.
However,
barriers
such
as
stigma,
operating
hours,
and
travel
distance
can
limit
access
to
SCS.
Virtual
harm
reduction
services
phone-based
overdose
response
hotlines
apps
emerged
an
alternative
when
SCS
is
hindered.
These
collectively
also
been
named
Mobile
Overdose
Response
Services
(MORS).
At
this
time,
little
known
about
how
best
increase
awareness
of
these
services.
For
qualitative
study,
46
individuals
across
Canada
were
recruited
examine
ways
improve
virtual
reduction.
Semi-structured
interviews
with
the
participants
conducted.
Data
analysis
using
inductive
thematic
informed
grounded
theory
was
used
identify
major
themes.
Participants
identified
enhanced
social
marketing
a
priority
raise
reduce
stigma
associated
substance
MORS.
Social
media
campaigns,
endorsements
from
peers
healthcare
professionals,
community
support
suggested
strategies.
The
study
revealed
importance
connecting
existing
resources
services,
including
outreach
teams,
MORS
penetration.
A
cohesive
system
reference
lists
advocated
smoother
navigation.
This
offers
insights
into
key
partners'
perspectives
recommendations
around
increasing
hotline
app
awareness,
thereby
contributing
user
efforts.
Язык: Английский
Perspectives of key interest groups regarding supervised Consumption sites (SCS) and novel virtual harm reduction services / overdose response hotlines and applications: a qualitative Canadian study
Harm Reduction Journal,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
21(1)
Опубликована: Июль 27, 2024
Abstract
Background
Supervised
consumption
sites
(SCS)
and
overdose
prevention
(OPS)
have
been
implemented
across
Canada
to
mitigate
harms
associated
with
illicit
substance
use.
Despite
their
successes,
they
still
contend
challenges
that
limit
accessibility
uptake.
Overdose
response
hotlines
apps
are
novel
virtual
technologies
reminiscent
of
informal
“spotting”
methods
may
address
some
the
limitations.
Here,
we
strove
qualitatively
examine
factors
encourage
or
deter
utilization
these
services
SCS.
Methods
A
total
52
participants
were
recruited
using
convenience
snowball
sampling
methods.
These
included
people
lived
living
experience
use,
family
members
experience,
healthcare
providers,
community
harm
reduction
workers,
operators.
Semi-structured
telephone
interviews
conducted
inductive
thematic
analysis
was
performed
identify
themes
pertaining
SCS
reduction.
Results
Participants
viewed
hotline
as
an
opportunity
consume
substances
without
being
hindered
by
logistical
barriers
(e.g.,
wait
times),
fear
law
enforcement,
invasion
privacy,
more.
They
also
noted
provided
more
flexibility
for
clients
who
opt
routes
not
supported
SCS,
such
smoking.
Overall,
perceived
be
better
than
at
facilitating
social
connection,
providing
additional
resources/referrals,
well
prompt
overdose.
Conclusion
In
sum,
filling
different
needs
gaps.
This
study
adds
a
growing
body
literature
which
informs
how
can
serve
useful
adjunct
standard
Язык: Английский
Are virtual harm reduction interventions right for everyone?: A qualitative study of the appropriateness of overdose response hotlines and applications for different subgroups of people who use substances
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
168, С. 209567 - 209567
Опубликована: Ноя. 5, 2024
Язык: Английский