Fentanyl Test Strip Use and Overdose Risk Reduction Behaviors Among People Who Use Drugs.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Substance Use Research
• Harm Reduction

Background:

• Illegal fentanyl significantly contributes to overdose mortality.
• Fentanyl test strips (FTS) offer a tool for point-of-consumption drug testing.
• Existing evidence on FTS and overdose risk reduction is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between baseline FTS use and overdose risk reduction behaviors.
• To determine if baseline FTS use impacts nonfatal overdose risk over 28 days.

Main Methods:

• A multisite, observational cohort study of people who use drugs (PWUD) was conducted.
• Participants (N=732) were recruited from 14 community sites across Kentucky, New York, and Ohio.
• Baseline FTS use was assessed, and participants were followed for overdose risk behaviors and nonfatal overdose.

Main Results:

• Participants reporting baseline FTS use showed a higher mean daily score for overdose risk reduction behaviors (0.86 units higher).
• No significant difference in self-reported nonfatal overdoses was observed between FTS users and non-users.
• Baseline FTS users were more likely to be from Ohio and White, and less likely to be from New York or identify as Hispanic/Black.

Conclusions:

• Baseline FTS use is associated with increased engagement in overdose risk reduction behaviors.
• FTS use did not directly correlate with a reduction in nonfatal overdose risk in this cohort.
• Findings suggest PWUD who use FTS may employ a wider range of harm reduction strategies.