scholarly journals Third party drug checking: accessing harm reduction services on the behalf of others

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Larnder ◽  
Piotr Burek ◽  
Bruce Wallace ◽  
Dennis K. Hore
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Service Accessibility ◽  
Common Response ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Individual Use ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Service Data

Abstract Background Drug checking uses chemical analytical technologies to analyze drugs from the unregulated market to reduce substance use-related risks. We aim to examine the frequency of third party use of a community drug checking service to explore the potential for harm reduction to extend beyond the individual into the community, increase service accessibility, and to contribute to upstream interventions in the supply. Methods Over 31 months, data were collected from a point-of-care drug checking service operated in Victoria, Canada. Through the implementation of survey questions at the intake of the service, data were collected about whether the drug check was for the individual, to sell, and/or for others. Results Just over half (52%) of service users were checking for reasons that extended beyond individual use. When checking for others, friends were the most common response, representing 52% of responses, and outreach/support workers checking for others was the second most at 32%. Twelve percent of service users reported checking to sell or for a supplier. Conclusions Third party checking is a frequent, and important aspect of drug checking services, which through facilitating community engagement and increasing accessibility, has expanded the reach of interventions beyond individuals to reduce risks within the unregulated market. Therefore, drug checking as an overdose response should be responsive and accessible for those using the service on the behalf of others.

scholarly journals The potential impacts of community drug checking within the overdose crisis: qualitative study exploring the perspective of prospective service users

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Wallace ◽  
Thea van Roode ◽  
Flora Pagan ◽  
Dennis Hore ◽  
Bernadette Pauly
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Socioecological Model ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Universal Approach ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background As drug checking becomes more integrated within public health responses to the overdose crisis, and potentially more institutionalized, there is value in critically questioning the impacts of drug checking as a harm reduction response. Methods As part of a pilot project to implement community drug checking in Victoria, BC, Canada, in-depth interviews (N = 27) were held with people who use or have used substances, family or friends of people who use substances, and/or people who make or distribute substances. Critical harm reduction and social justice perspectives and a socioecological model guided our analysis to understand the potential role of drug checking within the overdose crisis, from the perspective of prospective service users. Results Participants provided insight into who might benefit from community drug checking and potential benefits. They indicated drug checking addresses a “shared need” that could benefit people who use substances, people who care for people who use substances, and people who sell substances. Using a socioecological model, we identified four overarching themes corresponding to benefits at each level: “drug checking to improve health and wellbeing of people who use substances”, “drug checking to increase quality control in an unregulated market”, “drug checking to create healthier environments”, and “drug checking to mediate policies around substance use”. Conclusions Drug checking requires a universal approach to meet the needs of diverse populations who use substances, and must not be focused on abstinence based outcomes. As a harm reduction response, community drug checking has potential impacts beyond the individual level. These include increasing power and accountability within the illicit drug market, improving the health of communities, supporting safer supply initiatives and regulation of substances, and mitigating harms of criminalization. Evaluation of drug checking should consider potential impacts that extend beyond individual behaviour change and recognize lived realities and structural conditions.

scholarly journals Correction to: Third party drug checking: accessing harm reduction services on the behalf of others

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Larnder ◽  
Piotr Burek ◽  
Bruce Wallace ◽  
Dennis K. Hore
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Drug Checking

scholarly journals A Low-Barrier and Comprehensive Community-Based Harm-Reduction Site in Vancouver, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 833-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Olding ◽  
Andrew Ivsins ◽  
Samara Mayer ◽  
Alex Betsos ◽  
Jade Boyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Treatment Program ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Overdose Deaths

“The Molson” is a low-barrier, peer-staffed, supervised consumption site located in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to overdose response, this site offers drug checking and a colocated injectable hydromorphone treatment program, and it distributes tablet and liquid hydromorphone to service users at high risk of overdose. Our evaluation suggests benefits of this program in creating service continuums and preventing overdose deaths. From September 2017 to August 2019, the site had 128 944 visits, reversed 770 overdoses, and had no overdose deaths.

scholarly journals The Proposal of a New Tool for Condition Assessment of Medium Voltage Power Cable Lines

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4116
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Siodla ◽  
Aleksandra Rakowska ◽  
Slawomir Noske
Keyword(s):  
Research Work ◽  
Technical Condition ◽  
Power Cable ◽  
Investment Planning ◽  
Medium Voltage ◽  
Cable Network ◽  
Rate Analysis ◽  
Cable Lines ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Service Data

A medium voltage (MV) cable network is a substantial component of the distribution network. Present management of this grid segment is mainly based on the failure rate analysis, i.e., a rise in the number and kind of faults on the actual line means that its technical condition is getting worse. The efficiency of the power system is low and additional costs of repair works, supply interruption, difficulties in the investment planning and operation and maintenance works are necessary. The aim of the R&D works done in the realised project is to implement the management of the MV cable network based on the estimated condition of the individual cable line, obtained from diagnostic measurements. The diagnostic investigations of the cable lines are the reference. Many years of research work have led to the development of the Health Index based on diagnostic, technical and service data.

scholarly journals The Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter: preliminary validation of a personal recovery measure

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridey Monger ◽  
Scott M. Hardie ◽  
Robin Ion ◽  
Jane Cumming ◽  
Nigel Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Preliminary Validation ◽  
Service Outcomes ◽  
High Internal Consistency ◽  
The Individual

Aims and methodThe Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC) is to date the only recovery outcomes instrument developed in Scotland. This paper describes the steps taken to initially assess its validity and reliability, including factorial analysis, internal consistency and a correlation benchmarking analysis.ResultsThe I.ROC tool showed high internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure comprising intrapersonal recovery (factor 1) and interpersonal recovery (factor 2), explaining between them over 50% of the variance in I.ROC scores. There were no redundant items and all loaded on at least one of the factors. The I.ROC significantly correlated with widely used existing instruments assessing both personal recovery and clinical outcomes.Clinical implicationsI.ROC is a valid and reliable measure of recovery in mental health, preferred by service users when compared with well-established instruments. It could be used in clinical settings to map individual recovery, providing feedback for service users and helping to assess service outcomes.

scholarly journals The value of domiciliary medication reviews: a thematic analysis of patient views

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia McCormick ◽  
Bridget Coleman ◽  
Ian Bates
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Main Outcome Measure ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Medication Reviews ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Patient Centric

AbstractBackground Medication reviews are recognised as essential to tackling problematic polypharmacy. Domiciliary medication reviews (DMRs) have become more prevalent in recent years. They are proclaimed as being patient-centric but published literature mainly focuses on clinical outcomes. However, it is not known where the value of DMRs lies for patients who participate in them. Objective To determine the value of domiciliary medication reviews to service users. Setting Interviews took place with recipients of domiciliary medication reviews residing in the London boroughs of Islington and Haringey. Method Semi-structured interviews analysed using thematic analysis. Main outcome measure Themes and sub-themes identified from interview transcripts. Results Five themes were identified: advantages over traditional settings, attributes of the professional, adherence, levels of engagement and knowledge. Conclusion For many patients, the domiciliary setting is preferred to traditional healthcare settings. Patients appreciated the time spent with them during a DMR and felt listened to. Informal carers felt reassured that the individual medication needs of their relative had been reviewed by an expert.

scholarly journals Testing for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence: experiences of a tertiary eye centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000688
Author(s):  
Focke Ziemssen ◽  
You-Shan Feng ◽  
Sven Schnichels ◽  
Tarek Bayyoud ◽  
Marius Ueffing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Individual Assessment ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
Antiviral Antibody ◽  
Sequential Combination ◽  
The Individual

IntroductionThe actual prevalence of a SARS-CoV-2 infection and the individual assessment of being or having been infected may differ. Facing the great uncertainty—especially at the beginning of the pandemic—and the possibility of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, subclinical infections, we evaluate the experience of SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening at a tertiary clinical setting.Methods and analysisAll employees of a tertiary eye centre and a research institute of ophthalmology were offered antibody testing in May 2020, using a sequential combination of different validated assays/antigens and point-of-care (POC) testing for a subset (NCT04446338). Before taking blood, a systematic inquiry into past symptoms, known contacts and a subjective self-assessment was documented. The correlations between serostatus, patient contacts and demographic characteristics were analysed. Different tests were compared by Kappa statistics.ResultsAmong 318 participants, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 9 employees. Chemiluminescence assays (chemiluminescence immunoassay and electrochemiluminescence) showed superior specificity and high reproducibility, compared with ELISA and POC results.In contrast to the low seropositivity (2.8%) of healthcare workers, higher than that of the other departments of the hospital, a large proportion mistakenly assumed that they might have already been infected. Antiviral antibody titres increased and remained on a plateau for at least 3 months.ConclusionsThe great demand and acceptance confirmed the benefit of highly sensitive testing methods in the early phase of the pandemic. The coincidence of low seroprevalence and anxious employees may have contributed to internalising the need of hygiene measures.

The Individual and Administrative Justice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Creutzfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Perceptions Of Fairness ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Individual Justice ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Service ◽  
Administrative Justice

This chapter discusses what individual justice means in the realm of administrative justice. The standards of justice and fairness that apply in administrative decision-making need consideration from the perspective of the service user. Should the administrative justice system serve the citizen or the state? What role do individual service users have in the design, use, and evaluation of more bureaucratic systems of redress? Different notions of justice, as they relate to primary decision-making processes, have been described through various models. This chapter provides a set of tools with which to study the subject and argues for the importance of user voice and perceptions of fairness in the provision of a more citizen-focussed justice.

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