A Qualitative Exploration of Public Attitudes to Pharmacy Harm Reduction Services in the West of Scotland

Harm reduction services are effective in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with problem drug use. Worldwide community pharmacies provide opioid substitution therapy, needle and syringe programmes and health advice to people who use drugs. In general the public can have negative attitudes to harm reduction services and those who use them. Relatively few studies have specifically considered public attitudes to harm reduction services in community pharmacies. This paper explores public opinion to community pharmacy harm reduction services.