Environment factors include living circumstances such as homelessness and insecure accommodation, shelter of emergency accommodation, and living alone.
Homeless / No Fixed Address
Issues
No private space or hygienic space to inject
Reluctance to carry quantity of injecting equipment/sharps containers
Strategies
Referral and assistance with housing
Promote personal hygiene when injecting
Identifying safer places to inject
Encouraging young person to carry adequate supply of needles and sharps containers or provide numbers for after hours NSP services
Emergency Accommodation / Shelter
Issues include
Young person may not have private or safe space to inject
May face eviction for use on premises
Strategies
Assistance in obtaining more appropriate housing
Advocate on young person’s behalf with accommodation providers
Ensure safe disposal of injecting equipment
Own Accommodation
Issues
Using alone – heightens risk of undetected overdose
Strategies
Harm reduction work focusing on overdose risks and building in monitoring
