ArticleHarm reduction journal2026
"That would be such a game changer": a qualitative study of the acceptability and feasibility of a digital harm reduction support tool among people who use drugs.
Article in Harm reduction journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionPeople who use drugs (PWUD) in the U.S. often face barriers to accessing harm reduction, social, and medical services, including fragmented systems and limited access to locally relevant, usable information. A digital harm reduction support tool (DHRST) that identifies clients' needs and matches them to available community resources may help address these barriers. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of a DHRST among PWUD, as well as its potential role in supporting safer practices and improving engagement with services.
methodsWe recruited a convenience sample of 37 clients from a community-based harm reduction organization to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants were ≥ 18 years old, English-speaking, and able to provide informed consent. Interviews explored perceptions of the feasibility, acceptability, and potential uses of a DHRST. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
resultsFour primary themes emerged from our data: (1) participants viewed a DHRST as a valuable tool for navigating fragmented and locally specific information about harm reduction, social, and healthcare services; (2) participants perceived the tool as a means of enhancing safety in an increasingly unpredictable drug supply through access to real-time, peer-generated information and alerts; (3) participants expressed concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the potential unintended consequences of sharing sensitive information; and (4) participants emphasized that feasibility would depend on accessibility, including device access, digital literacy, and the availability of multiple platforms for engagement. Overall, participants expressed strong enthusiasm for the potential value of a DHRST despite concerns regarding implementation and information security.
conclusionsFindings suggest that a DHRST is both acceptable and potentially valuable for supporting harm reduction among PWUD, particularly as a means of improving access to locally relevant information. However, its effectiveness will depend on careful attention to structural constraints, privacy and data governance, and the broader risk environment in which information-sharing occurs. These findings support continued development of DHRSTs while emphasizing the need for user-centered and context-sensitive design.
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