Citation

Oh H, Kim K, Miller D, Veloso D, Lin J, McFarland W. Int. J. Drug Policy 2020; 82: e102787.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102787

PMID

32516685

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fentanyl test strips (FTS) can prevent overdose by identifying unknown fentanyl-laced drugs. We measured FTS use amongst people who inject drugs (PWID) in San Francisco.

METHODS: Data were from a cross-sectional survey of PWID in 2018, recruited by respondent-driven sampling. Participants were asked about FTS use in the last 12 months.

RESULTS: Of 458 PWID surveyed, 45.4% had used an FTS in the last 12 months. FTS use was higher among PWID younger in age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.97 per year, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-0.98), witnessing overdose (AOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.36-4.23), currently owning naloxone (AOR 2.92, 95% CI 1.76-4.87), and receiving overdose training (AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04-2.51). FTS use was lower among Black/African Americans (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.93). Amongst FTS users, 80.2% had a positive result, of whom 43.4% did not change their use of the drug, 26.5% abstained from using it, and 30.1% used a lower dose.

CONCLUSION: Efforts to promote the use of FTS may have reached under half of PWID in San Francisco. Avenues need to be found to increase the role of FTS as a harm reduction approach to prevent overdose, particularly for older and Black/African American PWID.

Language: en

Keywords

Overdose; Fentanyl; Opioids; Harm reduction; People who inject drugs