Tweed, E. , Rodgers, M., Priyadarshi, S. and Crighton, E. (2018) "Taking away the chaos": a health needs assessment for people who inject drugs in public places in Glasgow, Scotland. BMC Public Health, 18, 829. (doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5718-9) (PMID:29973179) (PMCID:PMC6030790)
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Abstract
Background: Public injecting of recreational drugs has been documented in a number of cities worldwide and was a key risk factor in a HIV outbreak in Glasgow, Scotland during 2015. We investigated the characteristics and health needs of people involved in this practice and explored stakeholder attitudes to new harm reduction interventions. Methods: We used a tripartite health needs assessment framework, comprising epidemiological, comparative, and corporate approaches. We undertook an analysis of local and national secondary data sources on drug use; a series of rapid literature reviews; and an engagement exercise with people currently injecting in public places, people in recovery from injecting drug use, and staff from relevant health and social services. Results: Between 400 and 500 individuals are estimated to regularly inject in public places in Glasgow city centre: most experience a combination of profound social vulnerabilities. Priority health needs comprise addictions care; prevention and treatment of blood-borne viruses; other injecting-related infections and injuries; and overdose and drug-related death. Among people with lived experience and staff from relevant health and social care services, there was widespread – though not unanimous – support for the introduction of safer injecting facilities and heroin-assisted treatment services. Conclusions: The environment and context in which drug consumption occurs is a key determinant of harm, and is inextricably linked to upstream social factors. Public injecting therefore requires a multifaceted response. Though evidence-based interventions exist, their implementation internationally is variable: understanding the attitudes of key stakeholders provides important insights into local facilitators and barriers. Following this study, Glasgow plans to establish the world’s first co-located safer injecting facility and heroin-assisted treatment service.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Also funded by CSO Clinical Academic Fellowship CAF/17/11. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Priyadarshi, Dr Saket and Tweed, Dr Emily |
| Authors: | Tweed, E., Rodgers, M., Priyadarshi, S., and Crighton, E. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing |
| Journal Name: | BMC Public Health |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| ISSN: | 1471-2458 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1471-2458 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in BMC Public Health 18:829 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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