Using digital technology to reduce drug-related harms: a targeted service users’ perspective of the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme

Strachan, Graeme; Daneshvar, Hadi; Carver, Hannah; Greenhalgh, Jessica; Matheson, Catriona

Abstract

Background: Deaths due to drug overdose are an international issue, causing an estimated 128,000 global deaths in 2019. Scotland has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe, with those in the most deprived areas at greater risk than those in affluent areas. There is a paucity of research on digital solutions, particularly from the perspective of those who use drugs who additionally access harm reduction and homelessness support services. The Digital Lifelines Scotland programme (DLS) provides vulnerable people who use/d drugs with digital devices to connect with services.
Methods: This paper reports on the evaluation of the DLS from the perspective of service users who accessed services for those at risk of drug-related harms. A mixed methods approach was used including an online-survey (n = 19) and semi-structured interviews (n = 21). Survey data were analysed descriptively and interview data through inductive coding, informed by the Technology, People, Organisations and Macroenvironmental factors (TPOM) framework, to investigate the use, access, and availability of devices, and people’s experiences and perceptions of them.
Results: Most participants lived in social/council housing (63.2%, n = 12), many lived alone (68.4%, n = 13). They were mainly over 40 years old and lived in a city. Participants described a desire for data privacy, knowledge, and education, and placed a nascent social and personal value on digital devices. Participants pointed to the person-centred individuality of the service provision as one of the reasons to routinely engage with services. Service users experienced an increased sense of value and there was a palpable sense of community, connection and belonging developed through the programme, including interaction with services and devices.
Conclusions: This paper presents a unique perspective which documents the experiences of service users on the DLS. Participants illustrated a desire for life improvement and a collective and individual feeling of responsibility towards themselves and digital devices. Digital inclusion has the potential to provide avenues by which service users can safely and constructively access services and society to improve outcomes. This paper provides a foundation to further cultivate the insight of service users on digital solutions in this emerging area.

Citation

Strachan, G., Daneshvar, H., Carver, H., Greenhalgh, J., & Matheson, C. (2024). Using digital technology to reduce drug-related harms: a targeted service users’ perspective of the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme. Harm Reduction Journal, 21, Article 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01012-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 30, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 11, 2024
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-7517
• Publisher: BMC
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Article Number: 128
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01012-y
• Keywords: Drug-related deaths, Harm reduction, Digital inclusion, Digital technology, Digital health, Qualitative research, Scotland, Substance use, Connection, Person-centred care
• Additional Information: Received: 27 October 2023; Accepted: 30 April 2024; First Online: 1 July 2024; This study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the University of Stirling’s General University Ethics Panel (GUEP; 7799), the Ethics Subgroup of the Research Co-ordinating Council of The Salvation Army, Turning Point Scotland, and Shine Mentoring. All participants provided informed consent via a consent form or verbal consent.; : Consent to publish was collected from the participants as part of the informed consent procedure.; : The authors declare no competing interests.