Familiarity and Support: Public Perceptions of Harm Reduction Strategies in Pennsylvania

OBJECTIVE: Opioid misuse is a public health crisis in the United States, leading to high rates of addiction, overdose, disease, and death. There are strategies to reduce the harmful consequences associated with opioid use. Harm reduction strategies (HRS) are part of a broader, comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. By studying and implementing these strategies, communities can develop a more holistic approach to address the complexities of opioid addiction. How the public perceives HRS can influence their likelihood of being implemented across communities. This study examines how familiarity with substance use disorder (SUD) influences support for HRS. METHOD: unfamiliar). RESULTS: In general, familiarity resulted in greater support for HRS. People who have a family member or close friend suffering from SUD were significantly more supportive of ND and NEP compared to those with no personal connection to SUD, but no differences were found for safe injection sites (SIS) or FTS. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the importance of personalized experience in shaping public perception of HRS.