City residents support public health approaches to drug use, homelessness: a messaging playbook

In the latest messaging playbook from the Big Cities Health Coalition , learn what city residents believe about drug use, homelessness, and community safety – and how to talk persuasively about public health solutions.

The Big Cities Health Coalition polled residents in its member jurisdictions about how government should address issues affecting them. The results show broad support for a public health approach to these problems and support for increased investment in those solutions. A public health approach includes harm reduction strategies and prioritizing access to drug treatment programs and affordable housing over arrests and incarceration.

Understanding city residents’ broad support for a public health approach is particularly important now, as tens of billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds are seemingly reaching local jurisdictions.

These findings also help establish core messaging that can be used when discussing these interrelated health issues with colleagues, constituents and the news media.

Overview of the findings

1. City residents support a public health approach to addressing drug use and homelessness.

Seven in 10 city residents think a public health approach is the right way to tackle issues of homelessness and drug use and improve the overall well being of their city.

2. City residents think economic factors and poor mental health are the top drivers of crime, substance use, and homelessness.

Two thirds or more say that unaffordable housing, high inflation and cost of living, and the mental health crisis in the U.S. are each main causes or a big cause of these other problems. They see foundational solutions as required in order to solve crime, homelessness, and drug use and overdoses in their cities.

3. City residents want greater resources to support effective services and programs.

Six in 10 city residents think their city does not invest enough in services and programs that save lives and improve health. Additional investments are needed at the federal level to ensure adequate funding in communities across the country.

Learn more

See the full playbook

Get the full set of messaging recommendations on our site.

Watch the webinar

Get an overview of our findings and hear from Seattle & King County’s senior substance use advisor, Brad Finegood, about how they approach messaging on their overdose response.