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Supervised injection sites are a controversial topic. In fact, the United States still considers them illegal. Yet research out of Europe, Canada, and Australia all point towards the efficacy of these sites. In this episode, we dive into the scholarship that examines safe injection sites, and the effects they have on overdose mortality, injection behaviors,…

This episode explores the realities of precarious work, particularly in peer-engagement roles within harm reduction. These positions can be informal, unstable, and not well compensated, and often impact people with lived substance-use experiences. We examine research that highlights issues surrounding precarious work, such as erratic work schedules and the lack of protection of peer workers’…

Why are patients with substance use disorders leaving hospitals against their doctor’s advice? In this episode, we discuss qualitative research that uncovers challenges faced by people with substance use disorders when they enter the hospital setting seeking care. We will also explore eye-opening studies that not only highlight these issues but offer innovative solutions to…

In this episode, we dive into the complexities of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), an intervention that has proven effective in reducing risks of overdose, legal system involvement, and drug-use-related illnesses. Although MMT has shown benefits for people who use drugs, it delivers low uptake and retention rates. Listen to this episode to learn more about…

In this episode, we examine many barriers to harm reduction faced by people who have been involved with the criminal legal system. These barriers are engrained in a system that fails individuals with substance use disorders at nearly every corner, from limited staff knowledge about harm reduction to the lack of connection between institutional and…

Women sex workers experience higher drug use rates and greater risks of STIs as well as poor mental health. Yet there is little data on their specific overdose risks. In this episode, we review emerging and critically important research that analyzes the impact of police-related barriers to harm reduction for women sex workers. We also…

Understanding the barriers to harm reduction is a critical step toward addressing head on the high rate of substance use disorders. In this episode, we examine one substantial barrier to the goals of harm reduction—stigma. Stigma exists at many social levels, from the individual to the population. Listen to this episode to learn what the…

Dr. Ducharme discusses implementation science as a useful approach for helping organizations and agencies prepare for and implement change. Download the one-pager (PDF). This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the…

This episode focuses on how clinics handle urine drug screening in their effort to tackle treatment for opioid use disorder. The episode highlights a study that examines how urine drug screening (UDS) practices in methadone clinics might be impacting patient retention rates. There is an emphasis on the fact that UDS happens to people, no…