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Drug Checking and Its Potential Impact on Substance Use
- Source :
- Eur Addict Res
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- S. Karger AG, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Drug checking as a tool for harm reduction is offered in certain cities throughout Europe, the USA, and Australia, but in general, it is internationally still scarcely available and controversially discussed. This study aimed at investigating the potential impact of a drug-checking offer on Berlin nightlife attendees’ illicit drug use and at identifying the encouraging and discouraging factors for using or refraining from such an offer. Methods: Using an online questionnaire, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in a Berlin party scene. A total of 719 people participated in the survey that took part in 2019. Results: The vast majority of participants (92%) stated that they would use drug checking, if existent. If the test revealed the sample to contain a high amount of active ingredient, 91% indicated to take less of the substance than usual. Two-thirds (66%) would discharge the sample if it contained an unexpected/unwanted agent along with the intended substance. If the sample contained only unexpected/unwanted substances and not the intended substance at all, 93% stated to discharge the sample. Additional brief counseling was stated to be useful. Participants showed a comparatively high substance use. Conclusions: Drug checking as a harm reduction tool was highly accepted in the scene, and the majority of participants stated to align their consumption behavior accordingly, in a reasonable manner. A concomitant consultation would be appreciated, which may be used to direct educational information about harms and risks to users.
- Subjects :
- Male
Drug
medicine.medical_specialty
Harm reduction
Potential impact
Health (social science)
Nightlife
Illicit Drugs
Substance-Related Disorders
media_common.quotation_subject
Sample (material)
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Computer-assisted web interviewing
Test (assessment)
Berlin
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family medicine
medicine
Humans
Female
Substance use
Psychology
Research Article
media_common
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14219891 and 10226877
- Volume :
- 27
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- European Addiction Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....58296b556054048e24748065df29658a
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000507049