Implementing drug checking as an illicit drug market intervention within the supply chain in a Canadian setting

Wallace, Bruce; Roode, Thea van; Burek, Piotr; Pauly, Bernadette; Hore, Dennis K.

doi:10.1080/09687637.2022.2087487

Cited by 12 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…A key distinction is between those which operate on a transitory basis at festivals and nightlife settings (known primarily as event-based drug checking) and those which operate on a permanent basis with individuals submitting samples directly for testing (known as community-based drug checking) [20,24,[27][28][29]. Whilst DCS have often been seen as interventions aimed at those who use drugs within nightlife and leisure settings, there has been recent interest in community-based services which engage with those who carry the highest burden of drug-related harm [28,[30][31][32][33]. For example, in North America, DCS have been driven by the ongoing opioid overdose crisis [31], and are typically integrated into low-threshold settings such as overdose prevention sites and other harm reduction services [18,[34][35][36][37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in North America, DCS have been driven by the ongoing opioid overdose crisis [31], and are typically integrated into low-threshold settings such as overdose prevention sites and other harm reduction services [18,[34][35][36][37]. In Canada, a government funded pilot has seen the establishment of three DCS across Vancouver, Victoria, and Toronto [30,38,39]. Several services have also been established across the USA [18,40,41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland

Carver,

Falzon,

Masterton

et al. 2023

Harm Reduct J

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Background Scotland currently has the highest rates of drug-related deaths in Europe, so drug checking services are being explored due to their potential role in reducing these deaths and related harms. Drug checking services allow individuals to submit presumed psychoactive drug samples for analysis, and then receive individualised feedback and counselling. This paper explores participants’ views on the advantages and challenges of three hypothetical service models, to inform future service delivery in Scotland. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 43 people: 27 professional stakeholders, 11 people with experience of drug use, and five family members across three cities. Vignettes were used to provide short descriptions of three hypothetical service models during the interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Participants identified advantages and challenges for each of the three potential service models. The third sector (not-for-profit) model was favoured overall by participants, and the NHS substance use treatment service was the least popular. Participants also noted that multiple drug checking sites within one city, along with outreach models would be advantageous, to meet the diverse needs of different groups of people who use drugs. Conclusions Drug checking services need to be tailored to local context and needs, with a range of service models being possible, in order to meet the needs of a heterogeneous group of people who use drugs. Addressing issues around stigma, accessibility, and concerns about the potential impact of accessing drug checking on access to and outcomes of drug treatment, are essential for successful service delivery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland

Carver,

Falzon,

Masterton

et al. 2023

Harm Reduct J

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“…The knowledge and expansion of these services allow for increased communication between PWUD, who are often isolated due to criminalization and stigma toward illicit drug use (Friedman et al, 2007;Muncan et al, 2020). Several harm reduction initiatives have been developed to address overdose and fentanyl monitoring at the street level such as an expansion of naloxone access and the installation of overdose prevention vending machines (ABC 7 Eyewitness News, 2023;Crumpler, 2022;Mulvhill, 2023; New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, 2023), the implementation of overdose prevention centers (OnPoint NYC, 2021), the decriminalization of drug use (Heano, 2023;Kary, 2023;Westervelt, 2021), and the installation of drug testing centers (Barratt & Measham, 2022;Gozdzialski et al, 2023;Larnder et al, 2021;Wallace et al, 2020Wallace et al, , 2021Wallace et al, , 2022. Given the number of harm reduction-related policies and initiatives, it is surprising that only a small number of research articles have examined drug testing and monitoring on DNMs to inform public health policy (Caudevilla et al, 2016;Giné et al, 2017;Quintana et al, 2017;Van Der Gouwe et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An examination of harm reduction strategies in Oxycodone and Adderall buyer feedback on AlphaBay

Logie,

Pugliese,

Acevedo

2023

Criminology & Public Policy

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Research summaryDarknet marketplaces (DNMs) are global digital marketplaces used primarily to buy and sell illicit drugs online. High rates of adulterated substances have contributed to the creation of harm reduction policies by DNM administrators to address growing rates of overdose worldwide. This paper explores the extent to which harm reduction occurs in buyer feedback of Adderall and Oxycodone purchased on AlphaBay and how these comments are impacted by AlphaBay's administrator‐led “harm reduction” policy. This study finds that harm reduction strategies are present in buyer feedback of Oxycodone and Adderall pills, but AlphaBay's policy has very little impact on the preexisting harm reduction communication within buyer feedback.Policy implicationsInternational policy proposals have placed emphasis on addressing the overdose crisis through harm reduction programs that provide people who use drugs with the necessary services and resources to buy and use drugs safely. There have been very few proposals that have considered how these programs can address the unique setting of buying and using drugs purchased on DNMs. Communication occurring among DNM buyers reveals how harm reduction strategies are being employed by users purchasing drugs from DNMs. In particular, these findings offer insight into the shared experiences of drug buyers in anonymous settings and the strategies they are using to protect one another from overdose and other unwanted side effects often caused by adulterated substances. Understanding these strategies highlights the ways in which street‐based harm reduction programs can extend their services to online environments to assist buyers with making safe and informed decisions when using substances purchased online.

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“…A emerging strand of DCS literature also suggests the potential for drug checking to work as a grassroots form of supply-side drug market regulation, by providing people who use and sell drugs with greater autonomy and knowledge to inform decision making when buying and selling drugs [ 40 , 56 , 59 , 62 , 63 ]. As noted, multiple studies have found that individuals intend to share results more widely with their social network, suggesting a potential impact for drug checking extending beyond the individual accessing the service [ 25 , 27 , 43 , 47 , 48 , 55 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Qualitative studies in Canada have observed use of DCS amongst those who sell drugs, who report that DCS can inform practices such as: returning products or information to suppliers further up the chain; cutting batches where they are stronger than expected; informing clients of drug checking results; and being wary of selling high strength products to customers with a low tolerance [ 62 , 63 ]. It has been argued that this may point to the potential for drug checking to facilitate an upstream form of drug market/supply intervention, where more accurate information about the contents of drugs are disseminated into the wider community [ 58 , 59 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It would really support the wider harm reduction agenda across the board”: A qualitative study of the potential impacts of drug checking service delivery in Scotland

Falzon,

Parkes,

Carver

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Drug checking services (DCS) enable individuals to voluntarily submit a small amount of a substance for analysis, providing information about the content of the substance along with tailored harm reduction support and advice. There is some evidence suggesting that DCS may lead to behaviour and system change, with impacts for people who use drugs, staff and services, and public health structures. The evidence base is still relatively nascent, however, and several evidence gaps persist. This paper reports on qualitative interviews with forty-three participants across three Scottish cities where the implementation of community-based DCS is being planned. Participants were drawn from three groups: professional participants; people with experience of drug use; and affected family members. Findings focus on perceived harm reduction impacts of DCS delivery in Scotland, with participants highlighting the potential for drug checking to impact a number of key groups including: individual service users; harm reduction services and staff; drug market monitoring structures and networks; and wider groups of people who use and sell drugs, in shaping their interactions with the drug market. Whilst continued evaluation of individual health behaviour outcomes is crucial to building the evidence base for DCS, the findings highlight the importance of extending evaluation beyond these outcomes. This would include evaluation of processes such as: information sharing across a range of parties; engagement with harm reduction and treatment services; knowledge building; and increased drug literacy. These broader dynamics may be particularly important for evaluations of community-based DCS serving individuals at higher-risk, given the complex relationship between information provision and health behaviour change which may be mediated by mental and physical health, stigma, criminalisation and the risk environment. This paper is of international relevance and adds to existing literature on the potential impact of DCS on individuals, organisations, and public health structures.

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Implementing drug checking as an illicit drug market intervention within the supply chain in a Canadian setting

Cited by 12 publications

References 45 publications

'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland

'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland

An examination of harm reduction strategies in Oxycodone and Adderall buyer feedback on AlphaBay

“It would really support the wider harm reduction agenda across the board”: A qualitative study of the potential impacts of drug checking service delivery in Scotland

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