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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/190614
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services in Spain.
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BACKGROUND:
Containment policies and other restrictions introduced by the
Spanish government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present
challenges for marginalised populations, such as people who use
drugs. Harm reduction centres are often linked to social
services, mental health services, and infectious disease
testing, in addition to tools and services that help to reduce
the harms associated with injecting drugs. This study aimed to
explore the impact of the pandemic on these services in four
autonomous communities in Spain.
METHODS : This is a cross-sectional study that employed a
seven-section structured survey administered electronically to
20 centres in July 2020. Data from the most heavily affected
months (March-June) in 2020 were compared to data from the same
period in 2019. Averages were calculated with their ranges,
rates, and absolute numbers.
RESULTS: "All 11 responding centres reported having had
to adapt or modify their services during the Spanish state of
alarm (14 March-21 June 2020). One centre reported complete
closure for 2\xC2\xA0months and four reported increases in their
operating hours. The average number of service users across all
centres decreased by 22% in comparison to the same period in the
previous year and the average needle distribution decreased by
40% in comparison to 2019. Most centres reported a decrease in
infectious disease testing rates (hepatitis B and C viruses,
human immunodeficiency virus, and tuberculosis) for March,
April, and May in 2020 compared to the previous year. Reported
deaths as a result of overdose did not increase during the state
of alarm, but 2/11 (18%) centres reported an increase in
overdose deaths immediately after finalisation of the state of
alarm."
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, Spanish harm reduction centres were able to continue
operating and offering services by adjusting operating hours.
The number of overall service users and needles distributed fell
during the Spanish state of alarm lockdown period, suggesting
that fewer clients accessed harm reduction services during this
time, putting them at greater risk of reusing or sharing
injecting equipment, overdosing, acquiring infectious diseases
with decreased access to testing or discontinuing ongoing
treatment such as methadone maintenance therapy, hepatitis C
treatment, or antiretroviral therapy.
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PICCHIO, Camila A., et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services in Spain. Harm Reduction Journal. 2020. Vol. 17. ISSN 1477-7517. [consulted: 11 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/190614