Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/34069
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dc.contributor.authorSchofield, Joeen_UK
dc.contributor.authorDumbrell, Joshuaen_UK
dc.contributor.authorMatheson, Catrionaen_UK
dc.contributor.authorParkes, Tessaen_UK
dc.contributor.authorBancroft, Angusen_UK
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-16T01:02:24Z-
dc.date.available2022-03-16T01:02:24Z-
dc.date.issued2022-12en_UK
dc.identifier.other500en_UK
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/34069-
dc.description.abstractIntroduction People who use drugs (PWUD) are considered vulnerable to COVID-19 exposure and the sequelae of infection due to their social circumstances, health conditions, drug purchasing, and substance use. They can depend on access to services that provide harm reduction, substance use treatment, recovery and support, and general healthcare. Social distancing measures and service restrictions posed significant challenges to the health and wellbeing of PWUD. Methods Ethical approvals were secured. PWUD were recruited from voluntary sector homeless and housing, harm reduction, and recovery organisations across central Scotland. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using the Framework Method. Results Twenty nine PWUD participated and reported mixed experiences of the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown. Several benefitted from policy and practice developments designed to sustain or increase access to harm reduction services. Some PWUD reported improved access to substitute prescribing and/or appreciated being trusted to manage multiple take-home doses. Others noted the loss of regular in-person contact with treatment providers and dispensers. Access to recovery support was challenging for many, especially those unable to access or uncomfortable with online provision who experienced greater isolation. Lack of access to general healthcare services was common, and especially problematic for PWUD with chronic physical and mental health conditions. Conclusions This qualitative research describes the impacts of COVID-19 social and service restrictions on PWUD in Scotland. These impacts were anticipated by policy makers and service providers. Effective and acceptable developments were shown to maintain and even increase service provision for PWUD. Developments were geographically dependent and significant challenges remained for many people. The learning generated can inform responses to increase service access and uptake in post-pandemic times.en_UK
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLCen_UK
dc.relationSchofield J, Dumbrell J, Matheson C, Parkes T & Bancroft A (2022) The impact of COVID-19 on access to harm reduction, substance use treatment and recovery services in Scotland: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 22 (1), Art. No.: 500. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12873-yen_UK
dc.rightsThis article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.en_UK
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en_UK
dc.subjectCOVID-19en_UK
dc.subjectSubstance useen_UK
dc.subjectHarm reductionen_UK
dc.subjectOpioid replacement treatmenten_UK
dc.subjectRecoveryen_UK
dc.titleThe impact of COVID-19 on access to harm reduction, substance use treatment and recovery services in Scotland: a qualitative studyen_UK
dc.typeJournal Articleen_UK
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12889-022-12873-yen_UK
dc.identifier.pmid35287630en_UK
dc.citation.jtitleBMC Public Healthen_UK
dc.citation.issn1471-2458en_UK
dc.citation.volume22en_UK
dc.citation.issue1en_UK
dc.citation.publicationstatusPublisheden_UK
dc.citation.peerreviewedRefereeden_UK
dc.type.statusVoR - Version of Recorden_UK
dc.contributor.funderCSO Chief Scientist Officeen_UK
dc.citation.date15/03/2022en_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationSociology, Social Policy & Criminologyen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationDementia and Ageingen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationFaculty of Social Sciencesen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationFaculty of Social Sciencesen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Edinburghen_UK
dc.identifier.wtid1803258en_UK
dc.contributor.orcid0000-0002-1307-2375en_UK
dc.contributor.orcid0000-0002-0409-3254en_UK
dc.date.accepted2022-02-24en_UK
dcterms.dateAccepted2022-02-24en_UK
dc.date.filedepositdate2022-03-15en_UK
dc.relation.funderprojectUnderstanding the health impacts of social responses to Covid-19 on people who use drugs in Scotlanden_UK
dc.relation.funderrefCOV/STG/Portfolioen_UK
dc.subject.tagCOVID-19en_UK
rioxxterms.apcpaiden_UK
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Reviewen_UK
rioxxterms.versionVoRen_UK
local.rioxx.authorSchofield, Joe|0000-0002-1307-2375en_UK
local.rioxx.authorDumbrell, Joshua|en_UK
local.rioxx.authorMatheson, Catriona|en_UK
local.rioxx.authorParkes, Tessa|0000-0002-0409-3254en_UK
local.rioxx.authorBancroft, Angus|en_UK
local.rioxx.projectCOV/STG/Portfolio|Chief Scientist Office|http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000589en_UK
local.rioxx.freetoreaddate2022-03-15en_UK
local.rioxx.licencehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/|2022-03-15|en_UK
local.rioxx.filenames12889-022-12873-y.pdfen_UK
local.rioxx.filecount1en_UK
local.rioxx.source1471-2458en_UK
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