Substance Use and Climate-Related Disasters among People Utilizing Syringe Exchange Services in Houston, Texas

Abstract

Abstract Climate disasters are becoming more common. Certain subsections of the population may be more susceptible to the health harms of escalating weather events. While a large body of work has been developed on the impacts of natural disasters on physical health, less has been explored relevant to substance use. In the current study, we assessed how natural disasters impacted people who use drugs in Houston, Texas, an area that has been repeatedly impacted by many climate-change related events (e.g., floods, hurricanes). We found that there were changes in the macro-market and subsequent seller and drug using patterns. Lack of access to obtaining drugs during storms or disasters occurred often, and participants reported that there were various patterns of use during storms or disasters. Most participants expressed that regardless of the barriers presented by natural disaster, they would usually find a way to obtain substances when they wanted or needed them. Our findings have implications for bolstering the availability of substance use treatment and harm reduction services and developing plans relevant to access in the face of increasing weather disasters.