Prevalence of fentanyl in methamphetamine and cocaine samples collected by community-based drug checking services

Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 252, P. 110985 - 110985

Published: Oct. 5, 2023

Overdose deaths involving stimulants and opioids simultaneously have raised the specter of widespread contamination stimulant supply with fentanyl. We quantified prevalence fentanyl in street methamphetamine cocaine, stratified by crystalline texture, analyzing samples sent voluntarily to a public mail-in drug checking service (May 2021-June 2023). Samples from 77 harm reduction programs clinics originated 25 US states. Sample donors reported expected physical descriptions. Substances were identified gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Negative binomial models used calculate prevalence, adjusting for potential confounders related sample selection. also examined if xylazine changed donors’ accuracy detecting analyzed 718 lab-confirmed (64%) cocaine (36%). The adjusted was 12.5% (95% CI: 2.2%, 22.9%) powder 14.8% (2.3%, 27.2%) cocaine. Crystalline forms both (Chisq=57, p<0.001) (Chisq=18, less likely contain fentanyl: than 1% crystal (2/276) no crack (0/53). Heroin present 6.6% samples. Xylazine reduced ability detect fentanyl, correct classification dropping 92% 42%. Fentanyl detected primarily Recommended interventions include expanding community-based checking, naloxone test strip distribution users, supervised consumption sites. New strategies dampen variability composition are needed reduce inadvertent exposure.

Language: Английский

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The Bronze Age of drug checking: barriers and facilitators to implementing advanced drug checking amidst police violence and COVID-19

Harm Reduction Journal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: Feb. 4, 2022

Unpredictable fluctuations in the illicit drug market increase overdose risk. Drug checking, or use of technology to provide insight into contents products, is an prevention strategy with emerging evidence base. The portable spectrometry devices point-of-service analysis drugs been adopted by harm reduction organizations internationally but only United States. This study aimed identify barriers and facilitators implementing checking services urban organization syringe service program serving economically marginalized people who Boston, Massachusetts (USA). In-vivo observations semi-structured interviews staff participants were conducted between March 2019 December 2020. We used consolidated framework for implementation research facilitators. effort was facilitated organization's shared culture reduction-which fostered goals beliefs about intervention among persons-its horizontal organizational structure, strong identification staff, relationships external funders. Barriers included technological complexity advanced spectroscopy utilized checking. Program indicated that commercially available are powerful not always well-suited efforts, describing their capacities as "the Bronze Age Checking." Other significant include legal ambiguity services, disruptive oppositional police activity, responses programmatic changes demanded COVID-19 pandemic. For be successful efforts implement scale these critical barriers-especially regressive policing policies prohibitive costs-need addressed. Future on impact policy reduce criminalization substance explicit frameworks provision this other may merited.

Language: Английский

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Legality of drug checking equipment in the United States: A systematic legal analysis

Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 234, P. 109425 - 109425

Published: March 21, 2022

Language: Английский

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Point-of-care community drug checking technologies: an insider look at the scientific principles and practical considerations

Harm Reduction Journal, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: March 25, 2023

Abstract Drug checking is increasingly being explored outside of festivals and events to be an ongoing service within communities, frequently integrated responses illicit drug overdose. The choice instrumentation a common question, the demands on these chemical analytical instruments can challenging as substances may more complex include highly potent ingredients at trace levels. answer remains nuanced themselves are not directly comparable nor local service, meaning implementation factors heavily influence assessment effectiveness instruments. In this perspective, we provide technical but accessible introduction background few methods aimed current potential providers. We discuss following tools that have been used part Vancouver Island Checking Project in Victoria, Canada: immunoassay test strips, attenuated total reflection IR-absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy from powder samples, surface-enhanced scattering solution colloidal gold nanoparticles, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Using four different mixtures received tested illustrate strengths, limitations, capabilities such instruments, expose scientific theory give further insight into their results. Each case study provides walk-through-style analysis for practical comparison between data several acquired same sample. Ideally, single instrument would able achieve all objectives checking. However, there no clear ticks every box; low cost, portable, rapid, easy-to-use sensitive identification accurate quantification. Multi-instrument approaches required effectively respond demanding level detection

Language: Английский

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Recent advancements and applications of Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical analysis

Journal of Molecular Structure, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1278, P. 134914 - 134914

Published: Jan. 4, 2023

Language: Английский

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Is fentanyl in everything? Examining the unexpected occurrence of illicit opioids in British Columbia’s drug supply

Harm Reduction Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 22(1)

Published: March 10, 2025

Language: Английский

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Intentions, actions and outcomes: A follow up survey on harm reduction practices after using an English festival drug checking service

International Journal of Drug Policy, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 95, P. 103270 - 103270

Published: May 8, 2021

Language: Английский

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What is drug checking, anyway?

Drugs Habits and Social Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 23(3), P. 176 - 187

Published: Aug. 30, 2022

Purpose The recent influx of interest in and the changing status drug checking has led us to reconsider some fundamental questions about checking. This commentary aims define It proceeds three parts: terminology, definitions programmes that are excluded from definition still have value for harm reduction. Design/methodology/approach To inform commentary, an informal review pertinent publications on topic was conducted extract relevant terminology. Findings Drug services (DCS) five necessary features: (1) aim reducing harm; (2) analyse samples directly public; (3) return results service user; (4) involve information exchange between user DCS; (5) conduct a tailored intervention with user. Variable features include populations served, setting, analysis methods, immediacy results, nature intervention, levels engagement other stakeholder groups, funding models, legal staff skillsets. Programmes not DCS but similarities non-publicly accessible testing drugs as well bodily fluids where may alerts. Originality/value remains legally, politically commercially sensitive health service. Reflecting history evolution checking, both term reduction service, helps provide clarity terms what is it not. facilitates more effective framing evaluations, do achieve.

Language: Английский

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Rapid and accurate etizolam detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for community drug checking

International Journal of Drug Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 102, P. 103611 - 103611

Published: Feb. 9, 2022

In British Columbia, Canada, illicit opioids have been increasingly combined with etizolam, a benzodiazepine analog, that continues to challenge popular portable drug checking technologies as it is often present in low concentrations result of its high potency. An unknown combination and benzodiazepines may dangerous consequences due unpredictable dosing, increased respiratory depression, complicated overdose response measures.Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using spectrometer used establish univariate model for the detection etizolam opioid mixtures (n=100) obtained from Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project, where presence has determined paper-spray mass spectrometry. Benzodiazepine immunoassay test strips are also performed on all samples comparison.SERS shown detect sensitivity (96%) specificity (86%). contrast, demonstrate (8%) same (n=100), only small improvements when studied over larger subset (n=506, = 29%).We demonstrated potential SERS trace within complex sample matrices. Since one few capable detection, further studies ability quantification discrimination adulterants street significant interest point-of-care applications.

Language: Английский

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Variability in the unregulated opioid market in the context of extreme rates of overdose

Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 235, P. 109427 - 109427

Published: March 26, 2022

Drug checking uses analytical chemistry technologies to report on the composition of drugs from unregulated market reduce substance use-related risks, while additionally allowing for monitoring and reporting supply. In context an overdose crisis linked fentanyl, we used drug data examine variability within illicit opioid supply.In this time-series analysis, was collected a service in Victoria, Canada November 2020 July 2021. Drugs reported as opioids by participants (N = 454) were analyzed determine sample paper spray mass spectroscopy quantify low-concentration actives. Interquartile statistical process control (SPC) namely standard deviation charts, degree among samples.Fentanyl found 96% samples be opioids, with median concentration 9%. Concentrations varied significantly, 7% fentanyl where nearly 20% points fell outside limits. Over half contained additional unexpected active, most commonly etizolam (43% samples). Etizolam also showed large level variability, uncorrelated that fentanyl.Based our chemical quantification SPC high both detected concentrations those drugs. This demonstrated less attributable bad batch but rather general market.

Language: Английский

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