Adam Holland

TL;DR: In this paper, a telephone semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 injecting drug users in Bristol, Southwest of England to examine their experiences relating to the COVID-19 public health measures; changes to opioid substitution therapy (OST) and harm reduction services; and perceived effects of COVID19 on drug use patterns and risk behaviour.

TL;DR: The rapid findings suggest that HR services should be deemed essential during a pandemic, with staff supported to work safely and social distancing adaptations implemented, and key messages on infection control, uncertain drug supply and accessing services were identified.

TL;DR: In this paper , the authors sought to understand the barriers to timely provision of opioid substitution therapy (OST), which helps to prevent opioid withdrawal, in acute hospitals in England, and conducted a document content analysis.

TL;DR: More recently, Caulkins et al. as mentioned in this paper have questioned the arguments used to defend this position with relevance for other countries debating the introduction of overdose prevention centres, and pointed out that these centres are a harm reduction intervention, meaning they aim to reduce the negative outcomes of a behaviour without necessarily condoning or condemning that behaviour.

TL;DR: In 2019, during a drug-related death crisis in the UK, the Government published its ten-year drugs strategy as discussed by the authors, which put people, health and human rights at the centre.