Xylazine detected in unregulated opioids and drug administration equipment in Toronto, Canada: clinical and social implications

Original research
par
Bowles, Jeannette M. et al

Date de publication

2021

Géographie

Canada

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Oui

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Oui

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

In September 2020, xylazine was first detected by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service

Constatations/points à retenir

The increased risk of overdose associated with use of xylazine and its detection within our setting highlights the importance of drug checking services in supporting rapid responses to the emergence of potentially harmful adulterants. These data also highlight the clinical challenges presented by the dynamic nature of unregulated drug markets and the concomitant need to establish regulatory structures to reduce their contribution to overdose morbidity and mortality.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

Analysis of 2263 samples submitted to the Toronto Drug Checking Service

Mots clés

Overdose
Mortality
Harm reduction
Policy/Regulatory
Decriminalization/legalization
Drug checking