Enhancing drug checking services for supply monitoring: perspectives on implementation in syringe service programs in the USA.
Harm Reduct J
; 21(1): 11, 2024 Jan 13.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38218980
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Shifts in the US drug supply, including the proliferation of synthetic opioids and emergence of xylazine, have contributed to the worsening toll of the overdose epidemic. Drug checking services offer a critical intervention to promote agency among people who use drugs (PWUD) to reduce overdose risk. Current drug checking methods can be enhanced to contribute to supply-level monitoring in the USA, overcoming the selection bias associated with existing supply monitoring efforts and informing public health interventions.METHODS:
As a group of analytical chemists, public health researchers, evaluators, and harm reductionists, we used a semi-structured guide to facilitate discussion of four different approaches for syringe service programs (SSPs) to offer drug checking services for supply-level monitoring. Using thematic analysis, we identified four key principles that SSPs should consider when implementing drug checking programs.RESULTS:
A number of analytical methods exist for drug checking to contribute to supply-level monitoring. While there is likely not a one-size-fits-all approach, SSPs should prioritize methods that can (1) provide immediate utility to PWUD, (2) integrate seamlessly into existing workflows, (3) balance individual- and population-level data needs, and (4) attend to legal concerns for implementation and dissemination.CONCLUSIONS:
Enhancing drug checking methods for supply-level monitoring has the potential to detect emerging threats in the drug supply and reduce the toll of the worsening overdose epidemic.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Servicios Farmacéuticos
/
Sobredosis de Droga
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Sysrev_observational_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Harm Reduct J
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos