Historique
Article de Périodique
Analysis of residual content of used syringes collected from low threshold facilities in Lausanne, Switzerland (2016)
Auteur(s) :
LEFRANÇOIS, E. ;
ESSEIVA, P. ;
GERVASONI, J. P. ;
LUCIA, S. ;
ZOBEL, F. ;
AUGSBURGER, M.
Année
2016
Page(s) :
534-540
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
24
Domaine :
Autres substances / Other substances ; Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
PRO (Produits, mode d'action, méthode de dépistage / Substances, action mode, screening methods)
Thésaurus géographique
SUISSE
Thésaurus mots-clés
ECHANGE DE SERINGUES
;
ANALYSE CHIMIQUE
;
SERINGUE
;
STRUCTURE DE PROXIMITE
;
REDUCTION DES RISQUES ET DES DOMMAGES
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
COCAINE
;
TOXICOLOGIE
;
HEROINE
;
MEDICAMENTS
;
DEPISTAGE
Résumé :
Background: For the first time in Switzerland, an analysis of residual contents from used syringes collected from low threshold facilities was performed. This preliminary study is part of a wider project aiming to understand patterns of injecting drug use over time.
Methods: Among the 100,000 syringes exchanged annually by the ABS foundation (Accueil Bas Seuil), 113 were collected following a purposive sampling method and analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results: Four syringes (4% of the sample population) contained no substances take into consideration the limit of the method. Cocaine was the most commonly observed compound and was detected in 77 syringes (68%), whilst users reported syringes with cocaine among those analysed in this study. Heroin was detected in 49 syringes (43%) and reported by 53 users returning syringes; midazolam was detected in 31 syringes (27%) and reported as the medicine Dormicum® in 22 occurrences. No new or unusual illicit drug was detected in the sample.
Conclusion: The results show the presence of cocaine in more than half of the sample, an absence of new or unusual illicit drugs, as well as very few traces of methadone, which suggests that this substitution drug is rarely injected. This preliminary study also demonstrates the potential of this developed methodology for monitoring purposes. An ongoing and more systematic approach could allow to detect modifications in drug use patterns among the target population as well as the appearance of new and hazardous substances. Such systematic and timely results could allow an adaptation of harm reduction interventions.
Highlights:
New tool to monitor illicit substances used by injecting drug users in order to adapt prevention and harm reduction messages.
Assess if the drugs found in syringes are those injection drug users' (IDUs) think they use.
Compare adulterants found in syringe content and those found within drug seizures made by the police.
Methods: Among the 100,000 syringes exchanged annually by the ABS foundation (Accueil Bas Seuil), 113 were collected following a purposive sampling method and analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results: Four syringes (4% of the sample population) contained no substances take into consideration the limit of the method. Cocaine was the most commonly observed compound and was detected in 77 syringes (68%), whilst users reported syringes with cocaine among those analysed in this study. Heroin was detected in 49 syringes (43%) and reported by 53 users returning syringes; midazolam was detected in 31 syringes (27%) and reported as the medicine Dormicum® in 22 occurrences. No new or unusual illicit drug was detected in the sample.
Conclusion: The results show the presence of cocaine in more than half of the sample, an absence of new or unusual illicit drugs, as well as very few traces of methadone, which suggests that this substitution drug is rarely injected. This preliminary study also demonstrates the potential of this developed methodology for monitoring purposes. An ongoing and more systematic approach could allow to detect modifications in drug use patterns among the target population as well as the appearance of new and hazardous substances. Such systematic and timely results could allow an adaptation of harm reduction interventions.
Highlights:
New tool to monitor illicit substances used by injecting drug users in order to adapt prevention and harm reduction messages.
Assess if the drugs found in syringes are those injection drug users' (IDUs) think they use.
Compare adulterants found in syringe content and those found within drug seizures made by the police.
Affiliation :
Ecole des Sciences Criminelles, University of Lausanne, Switzerland