Social work diagnosis and intervention in a harm reduction service for People Who Use Drugs

BACKGROUND 
GAT IN-Mouraria is a low-threshold harm reduction drop-in centre and drug consumption room designed for people who use drugs (PWUD) in Lisbon, Portugal. PWUD experience multiple vulnerabilities and face complex barriers to accessing social and health services, leading to various unmet needs. However, the social worker’s role in harm reduction services is often overlooked even though health is inherently connected to social determinants, and the need for social support is frequently perceived by most service users.
We intend to present the social diagnosis of PWUD and the intervention pursued by social workers and service users, based on the harm reduction framework. 
METHODS
The results were obtained through the analysis of data collected by the social workers of GAT IN-Mouraria regarding the intervention carried out with PWUD (n=124) who sought social support during the second semester of 2023. The assessment includes a characterization of the population (gender, age, nationality, and housing situation), and 14 indicators were selected to represent the service users’ most compelling needs.  
RESULTS
The average age of clients is 45.4 years old, of which 20.2% were female and 70.1% were of Portuguese nationality. 58% experience homelessness, more specifically roofflessness.  
266 social appointments were held, and 24 people were escorted to social and health services, with a total of 39 accompaniments and 73 hours spent.  
From the 14 indicators, the most requested from GAT IN-Mouraria's social work was the articulation and support related to social security, followed by work/training referral and support.  
CONCLUSIONS
The social diagnosis conducted during this semester has shown the relevance of social work intervention in a low threshold harm reduction service, determining which are the most prominent needs of PWUD and finding answers to these needs, such as housing, work, articulation with various services, documentation, and access to basic needs, among others. Social work intervention should be constantly guided by harm reduction principles, and, particularly in this context, must prioritize flexibility and adapt itself to PWUD's demand and characteristics.