Intention to Initiate Harm Reduction Vending Machine Use Among People Who Use Drugs: A Cross-Sectional Study of Prevalence and Correlates

Abstract

We explored the prevalence and correlates of intention to use a harm reduction vending machine (HRVM) among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Nevada (n = 219) from 2022 to 2023. Participants responded to a cross-sectional survey assessing HRVM awareness, intent to use, desired inventory, perceived barriers and facilitators of use, drug use patterns, and sociodemographics. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and Poisson regression models were conducted. Observations were excluded from the analysis if the demographic variables were missing (n = 6) or if participants reported having used an HRVM before (n = 23), resulting in an analytic sample of n = 190. Results indicated that 30% of participants were aware of HRVMs and 69% expressed intent to use one. Intention to use a HRVM was less common among people who identified as Hispanic and more common among people whose most common source of drug use supplies was a syringe service program. Perceived barriers included not knowing the HRVM locations, lack of transportation, and surveillance concerns. Conversely, perceived facilitators included access to needed supplies, free supplies, and 24/7 access. While awareness of HRVMs was low, future intent to use one was high, suggesting that HRVMs are an acceptable form of service delivery among PWUD.