Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study

Abstract Introduction Unregulated supply of fentanyl and adulterants continues to drive the overdose crisis. Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) are novel technologies that offer virtual supervised consumption to minimize the risk of fatal overdose for those who are unable to access other forms...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Boogyung Seo, Nathan Rider, William Rioux, Adrian Teare, Stephanie Jones, Pamela Taplay, S. Monty Ghosh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:Harm Reduction Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00946-7
_version_ 1797275374420230144
author Boogyung Seo
Nathan Rider
William Rioux
Adrian Teare
Stephanie Jones
Pamela Taplay
S. Monty Ghosh
author_facet Boogyung Seo
Nathan Rider
William Rioux
Adrian Teare
Stephanie Jones
Pamela Taplay
S. Monty Ghosh
author_sort Boogyung Seo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Unregulated supply of fentanyl and adulterants continues to drive the overdose crisis. Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) are novel technologies that offer virtual supervised consumption to minimize the risk of fatal overdose for those who are unable to access other forms of harm reduction. However, as newly implemented services, they are also faced with numerous limitations. The aim of this study was to examine the facilitators and barriers to the adoption of MORS in Canada. Methods A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and April 2022. Participants consisted of people who use substances (PWUS), family members of PWUS, health care professionals, harm reduction workers, MORS operators, and members of the general public. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify the major themes and subthemes. Results Respondents revealed that MORS facilitated a safe, anonymous, and nonjudgmental environment for PWUS to seek harm reduction and other necessary support. It also created a new sense of purpose for operators to positively contribute to the community. Further advertising and promotional efforts were deemed important to increase its awareness. However, barriers to MORS implementation included concerns regarding privacy/confidentiality, uncertainty of funding, and compassion fatigue among the operators. Conclusion Although MORS were generally viewed as a useful addition to the currently existing harm reduction services, it’s important to monitor and tackle these barriers by engaging the perspectives of key interest groups.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T15:12:25Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cd825688c1504673aa1a9c644a80be5d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1477-7517
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T15:12:25Z
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Harm Reduction Journal
spelling doaj.art-cd825688c1504673aa1a9c644a80be5d2024-03-05T18:06:48ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172024-02-0121111010.1186/s12954-024-00946-7Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative studyBoogyung Seo0Nathan Rider1William Rioux2Adrian Teare3Stephanie Jones4Pamela Taplay5S. Monty Ghosh6Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of AlbertaCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of AlbertaCollege of Medicine, University of SaskatchewanThree Hive ConsultingGrenfell MinistriesDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of AlbertaAbstract Introduction Unregulated supply of fentanyl and adulterants continues to drive the overdose crisis. Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) are novel technologies that offer virtual supervised consumption to minimize the risk of fatal overdose for those who are unable to access other forms of harm reduction. However, as newly implemented services, they are also faced with numerous limitations. The aim of this study was to examine the facilitators and barriers to the adoption of MORS in Canada. Methods A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and April 2022. Participants consisted of people who use substances (PWUS), family members of PWUS, health care professionals, harm reduction workers, MORS operators, and members of the general public. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify the major themes and subthemes. Results Respondents revealed that MORS facilitated a safe, anonymous, and nonjudgmental environment for PWUS to seek harm reduction and other necessary support. It also created a new sense of purpose for operators to positively contribute to the community. Further advertising and promotional efforts were deemed important to increase its awareness. However, barriers to MORS implementation included concerns regarding privacy/confidentiality, uncertainty of funding, and compassion fatigue among the operators. Conclusion Although MORS were generally viewed as a useful addition to the currently existing harm reduction services, it’s important to monitor and tackle these barriers by engaging the perspectives of key interest groups.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00946-7FentanylAdulterantsOverdose crisisMobile Overdose Response ServicesSupervised consumption
spellingShingle Boogyung Seo
Nathan Rider
William Rioux
Adrian Teare
Stephanie Jones
Pamela Taplay
S. Monty Ghosh
Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
Harm Reduction Journal
Fentanyl
Adulterants
Overdose crisis
Mobile Overdose Response Services
Supervised consumption
title Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
title_full Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
title_short Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study
title_sort understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining mobile overdose response services from the perspective of canadian key interest groups a qualitative study
topic Fentanyl
Adulterants
Overdose crisis
Mobile Overdose Response Services
Supervised consumption
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00946-7
work_keys_str_mv AT boogyungseo understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT nathanrider understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT williamrioux understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT adrianteare understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT stephaniejones understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT pamelataplay understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy
AT smontyghosh understandingthebarriersandfacilitatorstoimplementingandsustainingmobileoverdoseresponseservicesfromtheperspectiveofcanadiankeyinterestgroupsaqualitativestudy