Hospital policy as a harm reduction intervention for people who use drugs

Commentary
by
Lennox, Robin et al

Release Date

2021

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Findings/Key points

This paper explores seven areas where institutional policy change could improve the hospital experience of PWUD: (1) use of nonprescribed substances in hospital, (2) supporting inpatient addiction consultation services (3) in-hospital supervised consumption spaces (4) supply and distribution of safe drug use equipment and naloxone, (5) role of security services and personal searches, (6) use of hospital restrictions, and (7) involvement of PWUD in policy development.

Keywords

Harm reduction
Policy/Regulatory
Barriers and enablers
Peer/PWLLE program involvement
SCS/OPS
Hospitals