Developing Technology-Based Messaging to Increase Engagement with Harm Reduction Services Among People Who Use Drugs in New York City

Overdose deaths in the US remain at epidemic levels. As part of a larger project to develop a technology-based intervention designed to encourage people who use drugs to protect themselves and others against overdose, our team conducted a series of qualitative interviews with PWUD in New York City (n=30) to better understand why people choose not to engage with overdose prevention and other community-based harm reduction services. We found that people often fear stigma if they disclose their drug use, but also, that many people who use drugs and may be at risk of overdose perceive harm reduction as better suited for someone else. We hypothesize that technology-delivered messages emphasizing the respectful, non-judgmental nature of community-based harm reduction programs, combined with outreach tailored to multiple populations by age, substance(s) used and frequency of use can facilitate greater engagement.