ArticleHarm reduction journal2022
Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on syringe services programs in rural Kentucky.
Article in Harm reduction journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Experiences of People Who Use Drugs in Rural Southeastern Ohio During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Harm Reduction, Substance Use Treatment, and Trusted Information Sources.Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs · 2026Article
- Estimating the Cost-Saving Threshold of a Rural Syringe Services Program Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.AIDS and behavior · 2025Article
- Perspectives of syringe services program operators in Michigan on their relationship with substance use treatment: a qualitative study.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- "New Normal:" Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Syringe Service Programs Following the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Substance use & misuse · 2025Article
- Financial barriers, facilitators, and strategies among syringe services programs in the U.S., and their impact on implementation and health outcomes.SSM. Qualitative research in health · 2024Article
- Colocating Syringe Services, COVID-19 Vaccination, And Infectious Disease Testing: Baltimore's Experience.Health affairs (Project Hope) · 2024Article
- Program Director Reports of COVID-19 Lockdown-Driven Service Changes in Community-Based STI Clinics and Syringe Services Programs in the Southeastern U.S.AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education · 2024Article
- Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare and substance use service access among women who inject drugs: a qualitative study.Harm reduction journal · 2023Article
- COVID-19 vaccination and HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.Harm reduction journal · 2023Article
- A Novel Capacity-Strengthening Intervention for Frontline Harm Reduction Workers to Support Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness-Building and Promotion Among People Who Use Drugs: Formative Research and Intervention Development.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) exacerbated risks for adverse health consequences among people who inject drugs by reducing access to sterile injection equipment, HIV testing, and syringe services programs (SSPs). Several decades of research demonstrate the public health benefits of SSP implementation; however, existing evidence primarily reflects studies conducted in metropolitan areas and before the COVID-19 pandemic.
objectivesWe aim to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected SSP operations in rural Kentucky counties.
methodsIn late 2020, we conducted eighteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews with persons (10 women, 8 men) involved in SSP implementation in rural Kentucky counties. The interview guide broadly explored the barriers and facilitators to SSP implementation in rural communities; participants were also asked to describe how COVID-19 affected SSP operations.
resultsParticipants emphasized the need to continue providing SSP-related services throughout the pandemic. COVID-19 mitigation strategies (e.g., masking, social distancing, pre-packing sterile injection equipment) limited relationship building between staff and clients and, more broadly, the pandemic adversely affected overall program expansion, momentum building, and coalition building. However, participants offered multiple examples of innovative solutions to the myriad of obstacles the pandemic presented.
conclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted SSP operations throughout rural Kentucky. Despite challenges, participants reported that providing SSP services remained paramount. Diverse adaptative strategies were employed to ensure continuation of essential SSP services, demonstrating the commitment and ingenuity of program staff. Given that SSPs are essential for preventing adverse injection drug use-associated health consequences, further resources should be invested in SSP operations to ensure service delivery is not negatively affected by co-occurring crises.
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Registered trials
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