Planning and implementing community-based drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration using the...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Drug checking services (DCS) are crucial for harm reduction, providing chemical analysis and advice on substances.
• Scotland is planning to implement community-based DCS in three cities.
• Existing literature on DCS implementation contexts is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of drug checking services (DCS) and their implementation among various stakeholders in Scotland.
• To identify key factors influencing the successful rollout of DCS.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 43 participants, including professionals, individuals with drug use experience, and family members.
• The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided data collection and analysis.
• Findings were analyzed across nine constructs within the five CFIR domains.

Main Results:

• Participants stressed the need for low-threshold, trusted services with a harm reduction ethos.
• Service design considerations include testing speed and clear communication of analysis results.
• Leveraging existing resources, positive police and community attitudes, and stakeholder dialogue are crucial for effective drug trend communication and DCS success.
• High levels of support and perceived need for DCS were evident across all stakeholder groups.

Conclusions:

• The findings offer initial implementation considerations for Scotland's planned DCS.
• The study highlights the importance of implementation context in DCS research.
• Further research and stakeholder engagement are recommended as DCS become operational.