This study explores how a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) was used to evaluate a proposed harm reduction pilot programme in Wales providing safer inhalation devices (SIDs) for people who smoke crack cocaine, a group facing significant health risks and lacking targeted harm reduction services. Through stakeholder engagement, including people with lived experience, the HIA identified potential benefits such as reduced risk of infections, safer equipment use, and improved engagement with services, alongside challenges like resource pressures and access issues.
Overall, the findings highlight that an SID pilot could help reduce health inequalities and stigma, while demonstrating the value of HIA in shaping inclusive, evidence-informed public health interventions and guiding future implementation and evaluation.