The importance of drug checking outside the context of nightlife in Slovenia

Abstract

BackgroundThe main purpose of the research was to evaluate the implementation of the drug checking service in Slovenia and to obtain the opinion of users included in harm reduction programmes for high-risk drug users and of drug users in nightlife settings on drug checking, the reasons for drug checking, and their attitude towards adulterants in the drugs that they use.MethodsThe two final unrepresentative research samples included 102 respondents from harm reduction programmes and 554 respondents from the online sample. The questionnaire was designed based on analysis of the interviews conducted with professionals from the programmes, who took part in the drug checking project, and based on previous research on drug use in nightlife.ResultsThe main findings related to users’ opinions on the drug checking service are that users from both samples perceive drug checking as a contribution to risk reduction and that they find providing information for them about the harmful adulterants and substances that they use very important. In addition, users from both samples considered accessibility of the drug checking service as very important and would be in favour of brief counselling at the collection of the drug sample. One of the salient differences between samples was that nightlife drug users found it more important to recognise substances in the drugs that they use.ConclusionsDrug users from two different samples attach a relatively high importance to the drug checking service, and they consider it to be a contribution to risk reduction. As well as drug users in nightlife settings, high-risk drug users also perceive the drug checking service to be important, which is relevant in the phase of planning drug checking services outside the context of nightlife and for the act of incorporating these services into contemporary harm reduction policy.

Risk intentions following pill test scenarios are predicted by MDMA use history and sensation seeking: A quantitative field study at an Australian music festival

“…We can thus argue with confidence that participant‐subsidised pill testing would be an appropriate model in Australia. The high proportion of MDMA use, low levels of supplier trust found in the present sample are comparable with data collected from international nightlife samples .…”

“…While prior research has established that pill testing services are endorsed by people who have used MDMA in Australia and overseas , few studies have reported subsequent substance‐using decisions of MDMA users following a pill test result in a festival environment . Therefore, the present study offers an important contribution to a body of research supporting pill testing as a form of harm reduction at music festivals.…”

City checking: Piloting the UK's first community‐based drug safety testing (drug checking) service in 2 city centres

“…This is particularly salient given levels of opioid‐related deaths around the world including in the UK, where over half of DRDs involve opiates . Demand for such community‐based testing services is evident in footfall to Dutch services, with over 12,600 samples submitted in 2018, amongst high risk drug‐using communities in Slovenia, and amongst festival‐goers. For example, an online survey of 851 Australian festival goers found that 85% would use an external, fixed site service if available …”

Drug checking: a potential solution to the opioid overdose epidemic?

“…There are, however, a small number of studies of DCTs use among people who use opioids, including people who inject drugs (PWID). The results of feasibility studies examining expressed willingness to use DCTs among PWID have varied, with willingness ranging across settings from 33 to 90% [ 7 – 9 ]. Feasibility data aside, preliminary findings from an actual fentanyl drug-checking program at a SCS in Vancouver, Canada indicated that a positive fentanyl result was associated with higher odds of dose reduction [ 10 ].…”