Original research
by
Park, Ju Nyeong et al
Release Date
2024
Geography
USA
Language of Resource
English
Full Text Available
Yes
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Yes
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Objective
This study characterized xylazine awareness, desire, use and exposure among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Rhode Island, US, at a local drug checking service.
Findings/Key points
Implementing point-of-care drug checking services at harm reduction organizations could be useful in rapidly increasing xylazine awareness and engaging at-risk individuals in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and rapid care for xylazine-related wounds.
Design/methods
We analyzed data from an ongoing PWUD cohort study. In 2023, 125 PWUD were enrolled and surveyed. Using point-of-care Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-S), we tested a drug sample from each participant onsite and confirmed the results offsite at a laboratory.
Keywords
About PWUD
Drug checking
Harm reduction
Illegal drugs
Injecting drugs
