Integrating alcohol testing into HR interventions: Impact on decision-making and risk reduction in recreational settings

With a strong commitment to human rights and public health, Harm Reduction (HR) is a holistic and community-based intervention approach developed in various populations and contexts. Initially focused on contexts of greater social and human vulnerability, HR has expanded its scope to other settings.

In the spirit of community engagement and health literacy promotion, particularly regarding substance use, HR interventions have been actively implemented at music festivals, such as Rock in Rio and Kalorama. The aim is to "bring Health to the Party" by raising awareness about substance use within the festival context.

In the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region, HR professionals from DICAD have implemented an integrated intervention model in these contexts. This model includes providing a physical space during the festival where HR materials are distributed, and an informal environment is created for open discussions about substance and alcohol use. Additionally, prior training is provided to young individuals who engage in peer interventions during the event, with a primary focus on alcohol use, considering it is the most consumed substance in these particular settings.

This presentation aims to showcase the impact results of implementing alcohol testing (using handheld breathalyzers to assess blood alcohol concentration) as an integrated strategy in the HR approach within this context.

This study aims to demonstrate the relevance of this type of intervention for reducing risks associated with excessive alcohol use, particularly in driving and preventing road accidents, assessing the impact of the alcohol test results on immediate decision-making and awareness regarding alcohol use.

Application of an anonymous online survey, pre and post-alcohol test. Participants fill out the questionnaire on their mobile phones using a QR code, with assistance from healthcare professionals. The survey profiles individuals tested for alcohol, indicating a notable influence on driving decisions: a majority of those initially planning to drive chose not to do so in the following hours.

Recreational and nightlife settings, are conducive to alcohol (and other substances) use. In these festive contexts, consumption has a positive social representation, coupled with a low risk perception and a wide diversity of available substances, making them ideal environments for promoting health literacy and reducing associated risks.

HR interventions, characterized by a community-based approach, prove highly effective in these contexts, meeting people where they are in their entertainment environments. They provide information, materials, and counseling for safe consumption (and sexual practices). Alcohol testing emerges as a particularly effective strategy on this integrated HR intervention, showing a significant impact on decision-making and a subsequent reduction in associated risks.