While drug injection rates plummeted, 90% of respondents reported smoking drugs in the previous week in 2025.<\/p>\n
UW\u2019s biennial survey finds trends in drug-related behaviors, housing statuses, services used and desired, among other experiences of visitors to needle-exchange programs.<\/p>\n
The recently published report collected survey responses from 1,694 clients at 24 of 40 programs across Washington. The programs provide clients with supplies to use drugs more safely, naloxone (an overdose-reversal medication), and products for hygiene, wound treatment, and survival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe providers\u2019 aim is to save lives and reduce harms among this population, so they also connect clients with health and substance-use treatment services,\u201d UW Medicine stated.<\/p>\n
Survey finds most respondents using meth, fentanyl, cocaine want to quit<\/p>\n
The survey also found that a majority of respondents who take illicit methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, or other drugs expressed that they want to stop using.<\/p>\n
The \u201cmost striking\u201d data related to the availability of smoking supplies at these programs, and the lower rate of drug injection among respondents.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the 13 sites that offered smoking supplies, the survey responses showed that people were much less likely to inject drugs, 35%, versus 70% of respondents at sites that did not offer drug-smoking supplies,\u201d said Caleb Banta-Green, addiction researcher at UW Medicine.<\/p>\n
Banta-Green also noted the data was \u201can extremely compelling data point\u201d that goes against certain programs\u2019 decisions not to offer smoking supplies at their facilities.<\/p>\n
Banta-Green said the decision not to provide smoking supplies may be based on the assumption that drug-smoking supplies don\u2019t have the same apparent motive that sterile syringes do to reduce the potential spread of HIV and other infectious diseases.<\/p>\n
He then countered that understanding by claiming the reason behind people attending the facilities is for receiving smoking supplies, and inadvertently finding help resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting smoking supplies are why the majority of people are showing up at these sites today. And they are as likely to be interested in stopping their use and getting health care, mental health and substance-use treatment services,\u201d Banta-Green said.<\/p>\n
Key findings: Meth tops drug use at 90% as housing instability runs rampant<\/p>\n
Other key findings in the survey included methamphetamine remaining as the most frequently used drug at 90%, followed by fentanyl (58%), cannabis (50%), alcohol (26%), crack or cocaine (26%), and heroin (9%).<\/p>\n
UW also found that 76% of syringe-service visitors were unhoused or had unstable housing. Respondents were also interested in services, with 53% drawn to drug testing, while a strong majority wished to improve their physical (75%) and mental (69%) health.<\/p>\n
For opioid addiction treatment, 42% were interested in methadone, while 26% were interested in buprenorphine. Other respondents who used stimulants showed interest in medications that may reduce use (39%) or improve their mental health (33%).<\/p>\n
Banta-Green noted that there is no coincidence that so many people who use methamphetamine are also homeless.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people use methamphetamine because they are unhoused. There is great demand for hygiene supplies and basic survival stuff among this population,\u201d he said. \u201cStopping meth use isn\u2019t the solution; getting housing is the solution, and then they can take steps to reduce their substance use.\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow Jason Sutich\u00a0on X<\/a>.\u00a0Send\u00a0news tips here.<\/a><\/p>\n
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