Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction
Abstract Background Ongoing legal and social discrimination, and stigmatization of people with lived experience of drug use (PWLE) continues to contribute to overdose-related deaths in Canada. The involvement of PWLE working in harm reduction services has proven effective in decreasing drug-related...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00453-5 |
| _version_ | 1818613997392363520 |
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| author | People with Lived Expertise of Drug Use National Working Group Tamar Austin Jade Boyd |
| author_facet | People with Lived Expertise of Drug Use National Working Group Tamar Austin Jade Boyd |
| author_sort | People with Lived Expertise of Drug Use National Working Group |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Ongoing legal and social discrimination, and stigmatization of people with lived experience of drug use (PWLE) continues to contribute to overdose-related deaths in Canada. The involvement of PWLE working in harm reduction services has proven effective in decreasing drug-related harms among PWLE; however, there exist unintended negative impacts. PWLE working in harm reduction services risk overextending themselves beyond employment parameters (e.g., emotional labor) with few systems in place (e.g., employment advocacy) for support. While meaningful participation of PWLE in harm reduction programs is critical to addressing the overdose crisis, their labor in Canada’s overdose response commands further investigation and recognition. This paper examines some of the benefits and negative aspects of working in harm reduction among PWLE. Methods Fifty qualitative surveys were completed by PWLE working in harm reduction services from across Canada at the National 2018 Stimulus conference held in Edmonton, Alberta. The surveys focused on the benefits and negatives of ‘peer’ employment and recommendations for organizational transformation through short answer written sections. Surveys were analyzed thematically using NVivo, informed by critical perspectives on substance use, with attention to key re-occurring themes on employment equity. Results While participants described multiple benefits of working in harm reduction services, such as the valuing of their expertise by fellow ‘peers,’ growing skill sets, countering stigma, and preventing overdose deaths, issues of workplace equity were significantly identified. Stigma, tokenism, workplace discrimination, including power and pay inequities, as well as lack of worker compensation and benefits were identified as key factors persisting in the everyday experiences of participants. Conclusion Continued exposure to stigma, workplace discrimination, and/or power imbalances, combined with the impact of high stakes employment (e.g., dealing with overdose deaths), can have significant consequences for PWLE working in harm reduction, including burn out. Policy recommendations include large-scale structural changes that address inequities of hierarchical ‘peer’ employment for PWLE, including increased leadership roles for diverse PWLE, pay equity and benefits, unionization, as well as more supportive working environments attentive to the intersecting social-structural factors (poverty, criminalization, racism, gendered violence) impacting the everyday lives of PWLE working in harm reduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:11:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-213f63ccc7734181951ddcef07842a78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:11:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-213f63ccc7734181951ddcef07842a782022-12-21T22:25:13ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172021-01-0118111210.1186/s12954-020-00453-5Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reductionPeople with Lived Expertise of Drug Use National Working GroupTamar Austin0Jade Boyd1British Columbia Centre on Substance UseBritish Columbia Centre on Substance UseAbstract Background Ongoing legal and social discrimination, and stigmatization of people with lived experience of drug use (PWLE) continues to contribute to overdose-related deaths in Canada. The involvement of PWLE working in harm reduction services has proven effective in decreasing drug-related harms among PWLE; however, there exist unintended negative impacts. PWLE working in harm reduction services risk overextending themselves beyond employment parameters (e.g., emotional labor) with few systems in place (e.g., employment advocacy) for support. While meaningful participation of PWLE in harm reduction programs is critical to addressing the overdose crisis, their labor in Canada’s overdose response commands further investigation and recognition. This paper examines some of the benefits and negative aspects of working in harm reduction among PWLE. Methods Fifty qualitative surveys were completed by PWLE working in harm reduction services from across Canada at the National 2018 Stimulus conference held in Edmonton, Alberta. The surveys focused on the benefits and negatives of ‘peer’ employment and recommendations for organizational transformation through short answer written sections. Surveys were analyzed thematically using NVivo, informed by critical perspectives on substance use, with attention to key re-occurring themes on employment equity. Results While participants described multiple benefits of working in harm reduction services, such as the valuing of their expertise by fellow ‘peers,’ growing skill sets, countering stigma, and preventing overdose deaths, issues of workplace equity were significantly identified. Stigma, tokenism, workplace discrimination, including power and pay inequities, as well as lack of worker compensation and benefits were identified as key factors persisting in the everyday experiences of participants. Conclusion Continued exposure to stigma, workplace discrimination, and/or power imbalances, combined with the impact of high stakes employment (e.g., dealing with overdose deaths), can have significant consequences for PWLE working in harm reduction, including burn out. Policy recommendations include large-scale structural changes that address inequities of hierarchical ‘peer’ employment for PWLE, including increased leadership roles for diverse PWLE, pay equity and benefits, unionization, as well as more supportive working environments attentive to the intersecting social-structural factors (poverty, criminalization, racism, gendered violence) impacting the everyday lives of PWLE working in harm reduction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00453-5CanadaDrugsStigmaHarm reductionOverdosePeer employment |
| spellingShingle | People with Lived Expertise of Drug Use National Working Group Tamar Austin Jade Boyd Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction Harm Reduction Journal Canada Drugs Stigma Harm reduction Overdose Peer employment |
| title | Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| title_full | Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| title_fullStr | Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| title_short | Having a voice and saving lives: a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| title_sort | having a voice and saving lives a qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction |
| topic | Canada Drugs Stigma Harm reduction Overdose Peer employment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00453-5 |
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