Evidence suggests that many people who use drugs want better access to safer smoking supplies and that many harm reductionists believe they are an important resource to offer their participants. This article takes a closer look at why that is.
Population: General Audiences
R Street blog – Why Harm Reductionists Distribute Safer (Drug) Smoking Supplies
Distribution of Safer Drug Smoking Supplies as a Public Health Strategy
In Washington State, as across the country, fentanyl has rapidly become a primary opioid in the illicit drug supply. Fentanyl, especially in its pill form, is most often smoked rather than injected, both by individuals who are new to opioid use and by those experienced in injecting black tar heroin. Along with a parallel increase in the use of methamphetamine, which is also commonly smoked, the prevalence of opioid and stimulant smoking is quickly overtaking injection as a primary and frequent route of administration. This brief describes the current landscape of safer smoking equipment distribution in Washington State and nationally, the evidence supporting this intervention, legal issues, and areas for further research.
ADAI presentation – More Than Just Pipes: Lessons from the Field About Safer Smoking Supplies
Speakers from the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance and the Dave Purchase Project discuss the public health benefits of distributing safer smoking supplies and best practices for establishing a distribution program.
XADAI presentation – More Than Just Pipes: Lessons from the Field About Safer Smoking Supplies
Distributing Safer Smoking Pipes Increases Engagement with Harm Reduction Services in the United States: Findings from the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs
Findings showed SSPs distributing safer smoking pipes had more participant engagement and naloxone distribution. To maximize their full individual and population-level health benefits, SSPs should be supported technically, legally, and financially to implement safer smoking supply distribution for their participants.
The utilization and delivery of safer smoking practices and services: a narrative synthesis of the literature
This global review found that safer smoking practices are essential forms of harm reduction. People who use drugs in several studies reported that pipe sharing occurred for multiple reasons, including wanting to accumulate crack resin and protect themselves from social harms, such as police harassment. Across studies, smoking drugs, as opposed to injecting drugs, were described as a crucial method to reduce the risk of overdose, disease acquisition, and societal harms such as police violence.
NASTAD – Materials for SSPs: A Guide for Staff & Volunteers
This learning tool is designed for health department and community-based syringe services programs (SSPs) and their staff to provide an overview of materials typically available at an SSP, discuss alternative materials for safer injection when needed, and improve communication about the use and utility of safer injection supplies. The learning tool consists of a Training Module Webinar, a Presenter’s Guide, and PowerPoint slide deck that syringe services programs and health departments can customize for their in-house staff trainings. A double-sided informational flyer for easy distribution to staff and participants of syringe services programs will be coming soon.
Lessons Learned During the Launch of Syringe Services Programs in Michigan
The rapidity with which syringe services programs were scaled up across Michigan is a noteworthy public health achievement; however, it also underscores the scale of the modern addiction and overdose crisis and the need for evidence-based services. This report aims to “tell the story” of syringe services program implementation in communities throughout Michigan and describe the lessons learned by program operators.
UW SHaRP – Supporting Harm Reduction Resources
The SHaRP team creates guidance and resources focused on data and monitoring and evaluation focused on people who use drugs, SSPs, and harm reduction programs. This website hosts several guidance and resources created by the SHaRP team.
RTI International – Recommended best practices for effective syringe exchange programs in the United States: Results of a consensus meeting (2019)
This document summarizes the consensus among syringe exchange program (SEP) experts of the underlying principles and programmatic elements that enable or constrain SEP effectiveness. Effective SEPs have the support of local governing bodies and match sound operational characteristics with responsiveness to the unique features of their host communities. The panel highlighted operational characteristics that are critical for effective SEPs, and measures to be avoided because they undermine the primary goal of SEP: to make new, sterile syringes available to IDUs.
