Historique
Article de Périodique
Drug checking and its potential impact on substance use (2021)
Auteur(s) :
BETZLER, F. ;
HELBIG, J. ;
VIOHL, L. ;
ERNST, F. ;
ROEDIGER, L. ;
GUTWINSKI, S. ;
STROHLE, A. ;
KOHLER, S.
Année
2021
Page(s) :
25-32
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
38
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Thésaurus géographique
ALLEMAGNE
Thésaurus mots-clés
MILIEU FESTIF
;
TEST
;
REDUCTION DES RISQUES ET DES DOMMAGES
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
ETUDE TRANSVERSALE
;
PREVALENCE
Autres mots-clés
Résumé :
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.
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.
Affiliation :
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
Cote :
Abonnement