Fiona Measham1. 1. Chair in Criminology, Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, University of Liverpool, UK, and Honorary Professor, RMIT, Australia.
Abstract
AIMS: To explore the feasibility of delivering community-based drug safety testing (drug checking), to trial service design characteristics and to compare with festival-based testing. METHODS: In total, 171 substances of concern were submitted on 5 dates at 3 venues in 2 UK cities and tested using up to 6 analytical techniques. Test results and harm reduction advice were distributed directly to over 200 service users through 144 tailored healthcare consultations, to stakeholders, and through early warning systems, media and social media alerts. RESULTS: The 171 samples were submitted and identified as MDMA (43.3%), cocaine (12.9%), ketamine (12.9%), various psychedelics submitted by students, and heroin and a synthetic cannabinoid submitted by rough sleeping communities, with 76% of samples' test results as expected. The 144 primary service users identified as 91.7% white, 68.1% male, with an average age of 26.7 years. Reported harm reduction intentions included alerting friends and acquaintances (37.5%), being more careful mixing that substance (35.4%), lowered dosage (27.8%), disposal of further substances (6.9%) and additionally 2.8% handed over further substances for verified destruction. CONCLUSION: Community-based drug safety testing (drug checking) was piloted for the first time in the UK-within a drugs service, a community centre and a church-with consideration given to meso-level operational feasibility and micro-level behavioural outcomes. Service design characteristics such as venue, day of week, prior publicity, service provider, and direct and indirect dissemination of results all may impact on outcomes. Future studies should consider cost-benefit analyses of community and event-based testing and context-appropriate macro, meso and micro-level evaluations.
AIMS: To explore the feasibility of delivering community-based drug safety testing (drug checking), to trial service design characteristics and to compare with festival-based testing. METHODS: In total, 171 substances of concern were submitted on 5 dates at 3 venues in 2 UK cities and tested using up to 6 analytical techniques. Test results and harm reduction advice were distributed directly to over 200 service users through 144 tailored healthcare consultations, to stakeholders, and through early warning systems, media and social media alerts. RESULTS: The 171 samples were submitted and identified as MDMA (43.3%), cocaine (12.9%), ketamine (12.9%), various psychedelics submitted by students, and heroin and a synthetic cannabinoid submitted by rough sleeping communities, with 76% of samples' test results as expected. The 144 primary service users identified as 91.7% white, 68.1% male, with an average age of 26.7 years. Reported harm reduction intentions included alerting friends and acquaintances (37.5%), being more careful mixing that substance (35.4%), lowered dosage (27.8%), disposal of further substances (6.9%) and additionally 2.8% handed over further substances for verified destruction. CONCLUSION: Community-based drug safety testing (drug checking) was piloted for the first time in the UK-within a drugs service, a community centre and a church-with consideration given to meso-level operational feasibility and micro-level behavioural outcomes. Service design characteristics such as venue, day of week, prior publicity, service provider, and direct and indirect dissemination of results all may impact on outcomes. Future studies should consider cost-benefit analyses of community and event-based testing and context-appropriate macro, meso and micro-level evaluations.
Authors: Andrew Kolodny; David T Courtwright; Catherine S Hwang; Peter Kreiner; John L Eadie; Thomas W Clark; G Caleb Alexander Journal: Annu Rev Public Health Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 21.981
Authors: Claudio Vidal Giné; Mireia Ventura Vilamala; Fiona Measham; Tibor M Brunt; Alexander Bücheli; Carlos Paulos; Helena Valente; Daniel Martins; Bérénice Libois; Karsten Tögel-Lins; Guy Jones; Alexandra Karden; Monica J Barratt Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2017-06-02
Authors: Susan G Sherman; Kenneth B Morales; Ju Nyeong Park; Michelle McKenzie; Brandon D L Marshall; Traci Craig Green Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2019-04-13
Authors: Silvina C Mema; Chloe Sage; Yuhui Xu; Kenneth W Tupper; Daniel Ziemianowicz; Karen McCrae; Mark Leigh; Matthew Brendan Munn; Deanne Taylor; Trevor Corneil Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2018-09-24
Authors: Wendy Masterton; Danilo Falzon; Gillian Burton; Hannah Carver; Bruce Wallace; Elizabeth V Aston; Harry Sumnall; Fiona Measham; Rosalind Gittins; Vicki Craik; Joe Schofield; Simon Little; Tessa Parkes Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-22 Impact factor: 4.614