Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies
Abstract Background The messages used to communicate about harm reduction are critical in garnering public support for adoption of harm reduction interventions. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of harm reduction interventions at reducing overdose deaths and disease transmission, the USA has be...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00849-z |
| _version_ | 1797453444524539904 |
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| author | Sarah A. White Rachel Lee Alene Kennedy-Hendricks Susan G. Sherman Emma E. McGinty |
| author_facet | Sarah A. White Rachel Lee Alene Kennedy-Hendricks Susan G. Sherman Emma E. McGinty |
| author_sort | Sarah A. White |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The messages used to communicate about harm reduction are critical in garnering public support for adoption of harm reduction interventions. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of harm reduction interventions at reducing overdose deaths and disease transmission, the USA has been slow to adopt harm reduction to scale. Implementation of evidence-based interventions has been hindered by a historical framing of drug use as a moral failure and related stigmatizing attitudes among the public toward people who use drugs. Understanding how professional harm reduction advocates communicate to audiences about the benefits of harm reduction is a critical step to designing persuasive messaging strategies. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with a purposively recruited sample of U.S. professional harm reduction advocates (N = 15) to examine their perspectives on which types of messages are effective in persuading U.S. audiences on the value of harm reduction. Participants were professionals working in harm reduction advocacy at national- or state-level organizations promoting and/or implementing harm reduction. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a hybrid inductive/deductive approach. Results Interviewees agreed that messages about the scientific evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of harm reduction approaches are important but insufficient, on their own, to persuade audiences. Interviewees identified two overarching messaging strategies they perceived as persuasive: using messages about harm reduction that align with audience-specific values, for example centering the value of life or individual redemption; and positioning harm reduction as part of the comprehensive solution to current issues audiences are facing related to drug use and overdose in their community. Interviewees discussed tailoring messages strategies to four key audiences: policymakers; law enforcement; religious groups; and the family and friends of people who use, or have used, drugs. For example, advocates discussed framing messages to law enforcement from the perspective of public safety. Conclusions Interviewees viewed messages as most persuasive when they align with audience values and audience-specific concerns related to drug use and overdose death. Future research should test effectiveness of tailored messaging strategies to audiences using experimental approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e84ee6842034451fa22c6bf840ba1d72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e84ee6842034451fa22c6bf840ba1d722023-11-26T12:44:49ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172023-08-012011810.1186/s12954-023-00849-zPerspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategiesSarah A. White0Rachel Lee1Alene Kennedy-Hendricks2Susan G. Sherman3Emma E. McGinty4Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthJohns Hopkins UniversityHealth Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthHealth, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthHealth Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAbstract Background The messages used to communicate about harm reduction are critical in garnering public support for adoption of harm reduction interventions. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of harm reduction interventions at reducing overdose deaths and disease transmission, the USA has been slow to adopt harm reduction to scale. Implementation of evidence-based interventions has been hindered by a historical framing of drug use as a moral failure and related stigmatizing attitudes among the public toward people who use drugs. Understanding how professional harm reduction advocates communicate to audiences about the benefits of harm reduction is a critical step to designing persuasive messaging strategies. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with a purposively recruited sample of U.S. professional harm reduction advocates (N = 15) to examine their perspectives on which types of messages are effective in persuading U.S. audiences on the value of harm reduction. Participants were professionals working in harm reduction advocacy at national- or state-level organizations promoting and/or implementing harm reduction. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a hybrid inductive/deductive approach. Results Interviewees agreed that messages about the scientific evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of harm reduction approaches are important but insufficient, on their own, to persuade audiences. Interviewees identified two overarching messaging strategies they perceived as persuasive: using messages about harm reduction that align with audience-specific values, for example centering the value of life or individual redemption; and positioning harm reduction as part of the comprehensive solution to current issues audiences are facing related to drug use and overdose in their community. Interviewees discussed tailoring messages strategies to four key audiences: policymakers; law enforcement; religious groups; and the family and friends of people who use, or have used, drugs. For example, advocates discussed framing messages to law enforcement from the perspective of public safety. Conclusions Interviewees viewed messages as most persuasive when they align with audience values and audience-specific concerns related to drug use and overdose death. Future research should test effectiveness of tailored messaging strategies to audiences using experimental approaches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00849-zHarm reductionMessage strategiesQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Sarah A. White Rachel Lee Alene Kennedy-Hendricks Susan G. Sherman Emma E. McGinty Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies Harm Reduction Journal Harm reduction Message strategies Qualitative research |
| title | Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| title_full | Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| title_short | Perspectives of U.S. harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| title_sort | perspectives of u s harm reduction advocates on persuasive message strategies |
| topic | Harm reduction Message strategies Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00849-z |
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