Opiate-Dependent Service Users knowledge and attitudes towards Supervised Injecting Facilities

Background: Supervised injecting facilities (SIFs) are professionally supervised healthcare facilities where drug users can inject pre-obtained illicit drugs under medical supervision in a safer environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and knowledge of Opiate-dependent service users attending the National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC) towards SIFs.
Methods: 84 Opiate-dependent service users attending the NDTC for Opiate substitution treatment (OST) participated in an interviewer administered questionnaire (March- July 2017). The following data was collected: demographics, drug use pattern, knowledge of SIFs, willingness to use SIFs and attitudes towards proposed rules and regulations. Descriptive analyses were carried out. Ethical approval was granted by the Primary Care Research Committee.
Results: 84 Opiate-dependent service users were surveyed of whom 73% were male and 27% were female. The Mean age of participants was 38.3 years old. 85% reported a history of intravenous drug use. 39.4% were active intravenous drug users (injected in last 6 months). Of the active intravenous drug users 46.7% reported injecting drugs in public places such as streets, public bathrooms and parks with 43.3% injecting in more than one public place. Among active intravenous drug users, there was no association between accommodation type and willingness to use SIFs (p=0.36). 94.4% of service users with a history of intravenous drug use reported they would be willing to use SIFs. 90% of active intravenous drug users reported they would use SIFs. Regarding acceptability of SIFs proposed rules and regulations, 90% reported acceptability towards staff supervision of SIFs, 76.7% reported acceptability towards registration for use and prohibition of sharing drugs. 56.7% and 66.7% reported unacceptability towards use by pregnant women and persons under 18 years of age respectively. 
Conclusion: The majority of Opiate-dependent service users would be willing to use SIFS and find the majority of proposed rules and regulations acceptable. This study highlights the need to educate, collaborate with, and consult service users when planning SIFs in Dublin.