Stakeholder perspectives on implementing fentanyl drug checking: Results from a multi-site study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Substance Use Research
• Harm Reduction

Background:

• The opioid epidemic, exacerbated by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, poses a significant public health challenge.
• Drug checking in community settings offers a potential strategy to mitigate fatal overdoses and enhance health access for people who use drugs (PWUD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholder perspectives on drug checking technologies and implementation strategies.
• To inform the development of effective drug checking programs within community settings.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 stakeholders, including service providers, in Baltimore, Boston, and Providence.
• Stakeholders represented diverse organizations focused on harm reduction, public health, peer support, and advocacy.
• Interview data were transcribed and analyzed using a priori coding to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders expressed positive reception towards drug checking technology but raised concerns about practical implementation.
• Key implementation considerations included the technology's utility in fentanyl-prevalent areas, building trust between providers and PWUD, and addressing legal and policy issues.
• Further considerations involved technology accuracy, cost-effectiveness, distribution logistics, and optimal service delivery models.

Conclusions:

• There is strong stakeholder support for drug checking as a means to deliver risk reduction information and engage PWUD with services.
• Successful drug checking programs require tailoring to local contexts and critical buy-in from law enforcement and policymakers.