Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
The emergence of xylazine into the U.S. drug supply has increased demand for wound care services among people who inject drugs (PWID). Syringe service programs (SSPs) have created wound care services to fill the gap. In doing so, many SSPs are extending the scope of their services beyond health promotion into a quasi-medical space that is largely unregulated.
Findings/Key points
There is a significant unmet need for increased resources, administrative support, and mentorship to guide the integration of medicalized wound care into SSP programs. Additionally, efforts to expand access to community-based wound care services for PWID should not replace efforts to promote timely access to services in more traditional healthcare settings.
Design/methods
We conducted 10 qualitative interviews with staff employed by eight SSP programs across six counties in the state of Maryland to explore how they have navigated shifting demand for more intensive wound care services.
