Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
The Community Urinalysis and Self-Report Project (CUSP) is a low-barrier sentinel surveillance system developed to better understand use of drugs from the unregulated supply.
Findings/Key points
Stimulants were the substances reported to be used by the greatest percentage of participants in each region. Reported use by region was over 70 per cent for crystal meth/methamphetamine in British Columbia, Edmonton and Regina; 55 per cent for speed in Quebec; and about 40 per cent for crack in Ontario and Nova Scotia. There were stark regional differences in fentanyl use. Fentanyl was one of the substances used by most participants in British Columbia, Edmonton, Regina, Peel and Ottawa. In contrast, both reported and detected use of fentanyl use were under 10 per cent in Quebec and Nova Scotia. Benzodiazepines were frequently detected but seldom reported to have been used, suggesting high rates of unintended exposure. Participants reported smoking both stimulants and opioids more often than injecting them.
Design/methods
CUSP is implemented through a standardized project toolkit across Canada, including at provincial levels in British Columbia and Quebec, as well as locally by partner sites. Between January 2021 and April 2023, 2,634 service clients were recruited from partner sites that offer harm reduction and other services located in seven regions across Canada. Expected drug use (self-report survey on past-three-day use) was compared with actual drug exposure (urine samples analyzed with urine toxicology).
