Lessons Learned from a Grassroots Harm Reduction Effort to Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Inequities in accessing naloxone and fentanyl test strips (FTS) due to cost and stigma necessitate community-led distribution.
• The opioid epidemic in Kansas, particularly Wichita and Sedgwick County, highlights the need for accessible harm reduction supplies.
• Safe Streets Wichita initiated Project WORKED, a volunteer-led program providing free naloxone and FTS kits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess lessons learned from stakeholders involved in Project WORKED.
• To gather feedback for improving community-based harm reduction initiatives.
• To inform the future fidelity, efficiency, accessibility, and longevity of harm reduction supply distribution.

Main Methods:

• Conducted interviews with 12 key stakeholders, including volunteers, staff, and kit recipients.
• Included individuals with lived experiences of substance-related harms.
• Employed reflexive thematic analysis to interpret interview data.

Main Results:

• Meaningfully engaging community members most affected by substance-related harms is crucial.
• A strengths-based perspective of harm reduction is essential.
• Recognizing and addressing barriers to harm reduction supply distribution and harm reduction in general is important.

Conclusions:

• Findings underscore the importance of community engagement and a strengths-based approach in harm reduction.
• Addressing systemic barriers is vital for effective and equitable distribution of harm reduction supplies.
• The study provides a foundation for a more holistic and comprehensive approach to harm reduction in Kansas.