The opioid crisis of the 2010s in the U.S. has changed views about the best way to deal with drug abuse. As the overdose rate increased, harm reduction techniques became increasingly popular. A new research report by Alex Betsos, Jenna Valleriani, Jade Boyd, Geoff Bardwell, Thomas Kerr, and Ryan McNeil published in International Journal of Drug Policy explored one such technique. This research focused on drug checking as an important harm reduction tool.
What Is Drug Testing?
One of the reasons for opioid overdose is that many users will take drugs from illicit sources without knowing the contents. Of particular concern is the synthetic opioid fentanyl that is added to illicit drugs to increase potency. Fentanyl increases the strength of a drug and can be dangerous even at small amounts. Drug testing can provide information on the fentanyl content of drugs so that the individual will not inadvertently overdose. Such testing can be provided to illicit drug users so that they know the safety of what they are taking. The testing can be provided to drug sellers so they do not sell a dangerous product that might harm someone..
Drug Checking As an Important Harm Reduction Tool
The researchers interviewed 26 individuals who sell illicit drugs to others. The interviews were conducted at a harm reduction site in Canada that served as a safe space for drug users. This site provided free drug checking along with other services. The focus of the interviews was on the views of drug sellers who used the testing service. They were asked about drug testing of the products they sold to others.The findings showed that contrary to negative stereotypes of drug sellers, these people were quite concerned about the health of their customers, many of whom they considered friends. These sellers were able to use knowledge from the tests to modify their drugs to make them safer or return them to the source and not sell them at all.
The results of this study support expanding the idea of harm reduction from drug users to those who sell them drugs. Those individuals can be a first line of defense in preventing overdoses and overdose deaths. A criminal justice approach to dealing with low-level sellers, many of whom are drug users themselves, has not stemmed the flow of illegal drugs, and is ineffective, just as criminalization of drug use is ineffective. A focus on preventing harm rather than punishing drug dealers or users is a more effecting approach. Drug checking is one of a number of activities that can be part of a comprehensive strategy.
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