Motivators of and barriers to drug checking engagement in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Original research
par
Tobias, Samuel et al

Date de publication

2023

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

Responding to increasing rates of illicit drug toxicity mortality in British Columbia, regional health authorities introduced various types and models of drug checking services starting in 2016. Uptake has been gradual yet consistent, but motivators and barriers of service use have not been well-described.

Constatations/points à retenir

Participants highlighted barriers such as not knowing where to access services (21.0 %), or not having services in their area (10.0 %). Among people who did not report recent use of fentanyl, 49.6 % stated they would not use their drugs if they tested positive for fentanyl. Other harm reduction behaviors were positively associated with drug checking, such as use of overdose prevention sites (adjusted odds ratio and having a naloxone kit. Receipt of opioid agonist therapy in the previous six months was also positively associated with drug checking.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

Data from the British Columbia Harm Reduction Client Survey (n=537)

Mots clés

Drug checking
Barriers and enablers
About PWUD