scholarly journals Drug Checking at New Zealand Festivals (Final Report)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Hutton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Young People ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Harm Reduction Service ◽  
International Evidence ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Drug Checking

<div>Abstract</div><div><br></div><div>Background: The issue of drug checking at events such as music festivals has come to the fore in recent years both in New Zealand and other countries such as Australia and the UK. Drug checking, also referred to as pill testing, involves testing a small sample of a particular substance to determine what it contains. Alongside the actual testing drug checking services usually offer advice around how to take the substance more safely e.g. to keep hydrated, not to mix the substances together, and to avoid mixing alcohol and illegal substances. KnowYourStuff (KYSNZ) are a voluntary organisation that have been providing drug checking services at New Zealand festivals for approximately five years. KYSNZ operate in a grey legal area, making it difficult to provide a harm reduction focused service. For example, festival organisers could be prosecuted under s12 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) for openly having drug checking at their events.</div><div><br></div><div>Globally drug checking is not a new phenomenon and has been in existence in some countries such as the Netherlands since the 1990s. The international evidence so far about drug checking demonstrates that: it does not increase the use of illegal drugs; it does not encourage those who don’t use illegal drugs to start using them; behaviour change is evident when substances are not as sold; harm reduction advice is valued and acted upon by young people. Drug checking services often positively affect people’s behaviour and as such are an important harm reduction service, although drug checking is not just about the test itself - the information offered and advice given are important elements of drug checking services. Further, behaviour change should not be measured solely in terms of drug disposals as other behavioural changes are also important e.g. taking less, not mixing substances tested with other drugs or alcohol, as well as improvements in knowledge about harm reduction for service users. This research was undertaken to provide information and understanding about drug checking as a harm reduction intervention. Further, it aimed to explore both behavioural changes related to drug checking and attitudes towards drug checking services in New Zealand.</div><div>Methods: This mixed methods study gathered data via an online and in-situ survey as well as through structured and semi structured interviews. Four groups of people were interviewed: festival/event organisers; medical personnel who worked at festivals and events; volunteers working for KYSNZ; festival attendees/wider New Zealand public (recruited via the survey). Overall 66 people were interviewed, and 911 surveys were completed, with the final survey sample after cleaning totalling 861. The sample was a purposeful, focused, non-random sample.</div><div>Results - Survey: 68% of those who had used the services of KnowYourStuffNZ (KYSNZ) stated that they had changed their behaviour either through disposing of their substances after checking or through adhering to harm reduction advice. 87% of those who had used KYSNZ drug checking services stated that their knowledge of harm reduction had improved a great deal or a little. The survey results also found that the majority of participants (95%-97%) supported drug checking, thought that it reduced drug related harm, and supported the proposed change to s12 of the 1975 Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) to give drug checking legal status legal.</div><div><br></div><div>Results – interviews: All of the groups that were interviewed thought that drug checking was an important harm reduction service and that it reduced drug-related harms. The interviewees noted that young people will take drugs regardless of their illegal status and that drug checking services were therefore a crucial harm reduction intervention. Festival organisers wanted to provide as safe an environment as possible for those attending their events and noted illegality as a barrier to providing drug checking services. Festival organisers who invited KYSNZ to their events noted fewer serious incidents related to illicit drug use and emphasised the importance of having drug checking at their events. Medical personnel who were interviewed noted the treatment problems that came with</div><div>festival attendees ingesting unknown substances, and supported drug checking as it enabled clear information about drugs that were circulating at particular events that might be dangerous. All 66 interviewees viewed drug checking as an important harm reduction initiative and believed that it reduced drug related harms.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusions: The majority of people who had used the services of KnowYourStuffNZ changed their behaviour. This is in line with international evidence. Drug checking was recognised by research participants as an important harm reduction intervention that saved lives and kept young people as safe as possible when using illicit drugs. Drug use was also viewed by the majority of participants as a health issue and that it should be treated as such by supporting harm reduction initiatives such as drug checking. There is a high level of support to amend s.12 of the 1975 MODA to allow drug checking and make services like KYSNZ legal.</div>

scholarly journals Drug Checking at New Zealand Festivals (Final Report)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Hutton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Young People ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Harm Reduction Service ◽  
International Evidence ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Drug Checking

<div>Abstract</div><div><br></div><div>Background: The issue of drug checking at events such as music festivals has come to the fore in recent years both in New Zealand and other countries such as Australia and the UK. Drug checking, also referred to as pill testing, involves testing a small sample of a particular substance to determine what it contains. Alongside the actual testing drug checking services usually offer advice around how to take the substance more safely e.g. to keep hydrated, not to mix the substances together, and to avoid mixing alcohol and illegal substances. KnowYourStuff (KYSNZ) are a voluntary organisation that have been providing drug checking services at New Zealand festivals for approximately five years. KYSNZ operate in a grey legal area, making it difficult to provide a harm reduction focused service. For example, festival organisers could be prosecuted under s12 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) for openly having drug checking at their events.</div><div><br></div><div>Globally drug checking is not a new phenomenon and has been in existence in some countries such as the Netherlands since the 1990s. The international evidence so far about drug checking demonstrates that: it does not increase the use of illegal drugs; it does not encourage those who don’t use illegal drugs to start using them; behaviour change is evident when substances are not as sold; harm reduction advice is valued and acted upon by young people. Drug checking services often positively affect people’s behaviour and as such are an important harm reduction service, although drug checking is not just about the test itself - the information offered and advice given are important elements of drug checking services. Further, behaviour change should not be measured solely in terms of drug disposals as other behavioural changes are also important e.g. taking less, not mixing substances tested with other drugs or alcohol, as well as improvements in knowledge about harm reduction for service users. This research was undertaken to provide information and understanding about drug checking as a harm reduction intervention. Further, it aimed to explore both behavioural changes related to drug checking and attitudes towards drug checking services in New Zealand.</div><div>Methods: This mixed methods study gathered data via an online and in-situ survey as well as through structured and semi structured interviews. Four groups of people were interviewed: festival/event organisers; medical personnel who worked at festivals and events; volunteers working for KYSNZ; festival attendees/wider New Zealand public (recruited via the survey). Overall 66 people were interviewed, and 911 surveys were completed, with the final survey sample after cleaning totalling 861. The sample was a purposeful, focused, non-random sample.</div><div>Results - Survey: 68% of those who had used the services of KnowYourStuffNZ (KYSNZ) stated that they had changed their behaviour either through disposing of their substances after checking or through adhering to harm reduction advice. 87% of those who had used KYSNZ drug checking services stated that their knowledge of harm reduction had improved a great deal or a little. The survey results also found that the majority of participants (95%-97%) supported drug checking, thought that it reduced drug related harm, and supported the proposed change to s12 of the 1975 Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) to give drug checking legal status legal.</div><div><br></div><div>Results – interviews: All of the groups that were interviewed thought that drug checking was an important harm reduction service and that it reduced drug-related harms. The interviewees noted that young people will take drugs regardless of their illegal status and that drug checking services were therefore a crucial harm reduction intervention. Festival organisers wanted to provide as safe an environment as possible for those attending their events and noted illegality as a barrier to providing drug checking services. Festival organisers who invited KYSNZ to their events noted fewer serious incidents related to illicit drug use and emphasised the importance of having drug checking at their events. Medical personnel who were interviewed noted the treatment problems that came with</div><div>festival attendees ingesting unknown substances, and supported drug checking as it enabled clear information about drugs that were circulating at particular events that might be dangerous. All 66 interviewees viewed drug checking as an important harm reduction initiative and believed that it reduced drug related harms.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusions: The majority of people who had used the services of KnowYourStuffNZ changed their behaviour. This is in line with international evidence. Drug checking was recognised by research participants as an important harm reduction intervention that saved lives and kept young people as safe as possible when using illicit drugs. Drug use was also viewed by the majority of participants as a health issue and that it should be treated as such by supporting harm reduction initiatives such as drug checking. There is a high level of support to amend s.12 of the 1975 MODA to allow drug checking and make services like KYSNZ legal.</div>

Cannabis use as harm reduction in the Eastern Caribbean

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-177
Author(s):  
Marcus Day
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Crack Cocaine ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reduction Strategy ◽  
Harm Reduction Strategy ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Negative Context ◽  
Therapeutic Value

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present evidence of the therapeutic value of cannabis as a harm reduction intervention with people who smoke crack cocaine. Design/methodology/approach A desk study of published peer-reviewed material supporting the use of cannabis as therapeutic in mitigating some of the harms associated with crack cocaine smoking. Findings The use of cannabis as a harm reduction strategy for crack cocaine use has been commented on in the scientific literature since the 1980s. The officially scheduling of cannabis as having no medicinal value hampered further study despite the reporting of positive findings and numerous calls for more research. Practical implications There are currently no approved pharmaceutical substitutions for crack cocaine. Cannabis has shown itself effective in mitigating harms for 30–40 per cent of people. Cannabis is inexpensive and readily available and should be allowed for those people who want to use it. Originality/value Poly drug use is often framed in a negative context. In this paper, the author shows that with cannabis and crack, the poly drug use is actually a valid harm reduction strategy.

scholarly journals Reducing drug-use harms among higher education students: MyUSE contextual-behaviour change digital intervention development using the Behaviour Change Wheel

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilis S. Vasiliou ◽  
Samantha Dockray ◽  
Samantha Dick ◽  
Martin P. Davoren ◽  
Ciara Heavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Behaviour Change Technique ◽  
Behaviour Change Wheel

Abstract Background Digital harm-reduction interventions typically focus on people with severe drug-use problems, yet these interventions have moderate effectiveness on drug-users with lower levels of risk of harm. The difference in effectiveness may be explained by differences in behavioural patterns between the two groupings. Harnessing behavioural theories to understand what is at the core of drug-use behaviours and mapping the content of new interventions, may improve upon the effectiveness of interventions for lower-risk drug-users. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically apply the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) approach to understand the components, influencing capabilities, opportunities, and motivations (COM-B) of higher education students to change their drug-use behaviors. It is also the first study which identifies specific patterns of behaviours that are more responsive to harm reduction practices through the use of the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF). Methods We employed an explanatory sequential mix-method design. We first conducted an on-line survey and a Delphi exercise to understand the factors influencing COM-B components of higher education students to change their drug-use. Subsequently, we mapped all evidence onto the COM-B components and the TDF domains to identify clusters of behaviours to target for change, using a pattern-based discourse analysis. Finally, a series of multidisciplinary group meetings identified the intervention functions—the means by which the intervention change targeted behaviours and the Behavioural Change Techniques (BCTs) involved using the behaviour change technique taxonomy (v.1). Results Twenty-nine BCTs relevant to harm-reduction practices were identified and mapped across five intervention functions (education, modelling, persuasion, incentivization, and training) and five policy categories (communication/marketing, guidelines, regulation, service provision, and environmental/social planning). These BCTs were distributed across eight identified saturated clusters of behaviours MyUSE intervention attempts to change. Conclusions The BCTs, identified, will inform the development of a digitally delivered behaviour change intervention that focuses on increasing mindful decision-making with respect to drug-use and promotes alternatives to drug-use activities. The findings can also inform implementation scientists in applying context-specific harm-reduction practices in higher education. We present examples of how the eight identified clusters of target behaviours are mapped across the COM-B components and the TDF, along with suggestions of implementation practices for harm reduction at student population level.

scholarly journals What About Drug Checking? Systematic Review and Netnographic Analysis of Social Media

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 906-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Guirguis ◽  
Isma Moosa ◽  
Rosalind Gittins ◽  
Fabrizio Schifano
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Criminal Records ◽  
Social Burden ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Drug checking services have been operating worldwide as a harm reduction tool in places like festivals and night clubs. A systematic review and netnographic analysis were conducted to explore the public’s perception of drug checking. Although public perceptions of drug checking had not previously been evaluated in the literature, some positive and negative perceptions were captured. From twitter, a total of 1316 tweets were initially identified. Following the removal of irrelevant tweets, 235 relevant tweets were identified, of which about 95% (n = 223) tweets were in favour, and about 5% (n = 12) were not in favour of drug checking as a harm reduction intervention. Tweets perceived the service as part of effective law reform, public health intervention that serves in raising awareness and countering the role of the internet, initiative to reduce drug related harms and/ or potentially deaths, help in identifying Novel drug trends related to drugs, enabling a scientific basis to capture data, reducing harm from risky drugs or risky consumption, reducing the economic and social burden on society and preventing young people from having criminal records and punitive fines. Drug checking was perceived to support engagement with treatment services and support individuals in making more informed decisions. Tweets against drug checking focussed on the concerns over the quality of drug checking, particularly with false-positive results, which may lead to punitive outcomes, discrimination, and prejudice. The present study showed that twitter can be a useful platform to capture people’s perceptions of drug checking.

scholarly journals "Drugs Are a Taboo”: A Qualitative Study on Young People's Perspective on The Role of Education and Harm Reduction Strategies Associated With The Use of Psychoactive Substances Before Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Almeida Pinto da Silva ◽  
Catarina Pinto Pereira ◽  
Marta Sofia de Sousa Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Multi Method Approach

Abstract Background The use of psychoactive substances frequently starts at a younger age than adulthood. Having in mind the advantages of taking into consideration the youth perspective, this retrospective study tried to provide them with a role in identifying their own needs regarding drug use focused interventions, the obstacles in accessing both general health and harm reduction services; the changes needed for a more effective, congruent and empowering response to the use of psychoactive substances before the age of 18.Methods The study was divided into two parts. Both parts had a qualitative focus complemented with a quantitative dimension and were supported by a multi-method approach. The first part was comprised of a questionnaire sent online to all harm reduction teams and two focus groups with eight harm reduction professionals and six people who use(d) drugs. The second part used an online questionnaire applied to 143 participants aged between the age of 18 to 25 complemented by two semi-structured interviews.Results The need for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Activities in the drug education field, namely in the educational context; the lack of information about available services; the need for confidentiality were the most mentioned issues by the young people. Also, the informal network played a significant role in the participants relationship with psychoactive substances.Conclusions The lack of information was the most highlighted obstacle. Also, there is a confluence of various vulnerabilities such as being under 18, using drugs and the different social situations that they live in. To improve policy and practice regarding drug use among young people, harm reduction interventions must be scaled-up as well as intentionally driven to empower youth to deal with. School environment was chosen by participants as one of the elected environments to implement Harm Reduction services.

scholarly journals Drug use, harm-reduction practices and attitudes toward the utilisation of drug safety testing services in an Irish cohort of festival-goers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo-Hanna Ivers ◽  
Nicki Killeen ◽  
Eamon Keenan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Safety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Drug Checking

Abstract Background Festival drug-related deaths are a growing public health concern. Aim To examine drug use and related harm-reduction practices and attitudes towards utilisation of drug safety testing services. Methods Data collection took place over the 2019 festival season (June–October). The questionnaire was self-reported. Data was gathered via the online survey, which was promoted through online and social media platforms and outlets. Social media communication methods were used to reach the targeted population more effectively. Results A total of 1193 Irish festival attendees over the age of 18 completed an anonymous online survey. Alcohol, MDMA powder/crystals, ecstasy pills and cocaine were the highest reported drugs used by Irish festival attendees. The vast majority of participants reported polysubstance use (86.8%/n = 1036). Forty percent of participants (39.98%/n = 477) reported having had sex following the use of a drug at a festival; of these, 66% (n = 316) said that the sex was unprotected. Most participants (84.0%/n = 1003) engaged in some form of harm reduction when taking drugs at festivals. Overwhelmingly, participants reported a willingness to engage with drug-checking services. The vast majority (96.3%; n = 1149) and would use drug checking services more than three-quarters (75.1%/n = 897) reported that they would use an ‘amnesty bin’ for drugs if it were part of an alert system to notify if dangerous drugs are in circulation. A chi-square test of Independence was conducted to examine whether age and utilisation of drug safety testing service a festival were independent. Moreover, when all cases are taken together, the difference between testing modalities (onsite, offsite and amnesty bin) shows a significant difference p < 001 between those who would use onsite and offsite drug testing facilities. Conclusion The evidence from this survey indicates that those young people who use drugs at festivals would be prepared to utilise drug checking services and amnesty bins should help inform the public health response to this important area.

scholarly journals Reducing Drug-use Harms among Higher Education Students: X Contextual-Behaviour Change Digital Intervention Development Using the Behaviour Change Wheel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilis S. Vasiliou ◽  
Samantha Dockray ◽  
Samantha Dick ◽  
Martin P. Davoren ◽  
Ciara Heavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Behaviour Change Technique ◽  
Behaviour Change Wheel

Abstract Background: Digital harm-reduction interventions typically focus on people with severe drug-use problems, yet, these interventions have a moderate effectiveness on drug-users with lower levels of risk of harm. The difference in effectiveness may be explained by differences in behavioural patterns between the two groupings. Harnessing behavioural theories to understand what is at the core of drug-use behaviours to map the content of new interventions can improve the effectiveness of interventions for lower-risk drug-users. This is the first study to systematically apply the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to understand the components, influencing capabilities, opportunities, and motivations (COM-B) of higher education students to change their drug-use behaviour. This is also the first study which identifies specific patterns of behaviours likely to be most responsive to harm reduction practices through the use of the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF). Methods: We first conducted an online survey and a Delphi exercise to understand the factors influencing COM-B components of higher education students to change drug-use. Subsequently, we mapped all evidence onto the COM-B and the TDF to identify clusters of behaviours to target for change using a pattern-based discourse analysis. Finally, a series of multidisciplinary group meetings identified the intervention functions- the means by which the intervention change targeted behaviours and the Behavioural Change Techniques (BCTs) involved using the behaviour change technique taxonomy (v.1). Results: Twenty nine BCTs relevant to harm-reduction practices were identified and mapped across five intervention functions (education, modelling, persuasion, incentivization, and training) and five policy categories (communication/marketing, guidelines, regulation, service provision and environmental/social planning). These BCTs were distributed across eight identified saturated clusters of behaviours this intervention attempts to change. Conclusions: The BCTs identified will inform the development of a digitally delivered behaviour change intervention that focuses on increasing mindful decision-making with respect to drug-use and promotes alternatives to drug-use activities. The findings can also inform implementation scientists in applying context-specific harm-reduction practices in higher education. Examples of how the eight identified clusters of target behaviours are mapped across the COM-B components and the TDF are provided, along with suggestions of implementation practices for harm -reduction targeting students in higher education.

scholarly journals A Digital Substance-Use Harm Reduction Intervention for Students in Higher Education (MyUSE): Protocol for Project Development

10.2196/17829 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e17829
Author(s):  
Samantha Dick ◽  
Vasilis S Vasiliou ◽  
Martin P Davoren ◽  
Samantha Dockray ◽  
Ciara Heavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Change Framework

Background Digital interventions have been identified as a possible tool for reducing the harm caused by illicit drug use among students attending higher education (ie, college students). However, the success of interventions in this area has been hampered by a lack of user involvement and behavior change theory in their design. The My Understanding of Substance use Experiences (MyUSE) project combines a rigorous user-centered design (UCD) methodology and a robust behavioral change framework to develop a digitally delivered harm reduction intervention for illicit drug use among students in higher education. Objective This project aims to design and develop a digital intervention that targets drug use–related harm among students in higher education. Methods The MyUSE project will take place over 3 phases. The first phase was exploratory in nature, involving 3 systematic reviews, a large survey, and student workshops to gather a comprehensive evidence base to guide the project. The second phase is the development stage of the project, involving the use of the Behavior Change Wheel theoretical framework to determine the behavior change techniques of the intervention and the use of the UCD methodology to guide the development of the digital intervention. The third phase is the evaluation stage, whereby the intervention will undergo a 5-stage evaluation process to comprehensively evaluate its impacts. Results The exploratory phase 1 of the MyUSE project was completed in December 2018. Phase 2 is currently underway, and phase 3 is due to begin in September 2020. Conclusions Higher education institutions (HEIs) are ideally placed to intervene and support students in the area of illicit drug use but are constrained by limited resources. Current digital interventions in this area are sparse and have several weaknesses. The MyUSE project combines a UCD approach with a robust behavior change framework to develop a digitally delivered intervention that is economically viable, effective in changing behavior, usable and acceptable to students, and able to sustain long-term implementation in HEIs. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/17829

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