'It'd Be Nice to Know if You're About to Have Drain Cleaner': A Qualitative Study of Preferred Drug Checking Service...

Drug checking is an important harm reduction service that allows service users to make an informed decision about drug use. In early 2024, Queensland became the second Australian jurisdiction to implement a fixed-site drug checking service (CheQpoint). To prepare for this new service, we conducted a qualitative study to explore perceptions of drug checking services and ideal service features among a sample of potential service users, including those experiencing substance dependence.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 57 adults (57% male) who had used unregulated drugs in the past 12 months, recruited via online advertisements and from Queensland-based alcohol and other drug treatment services or a needle and syringe programme. Interviews focused on barriers and facilitators to accessing drug checking and opinions on service features. Data were analysed using iterative categorisation.

Six themes were identified: participants are highly motivated to use drug checking; barriers to access include confidentiality concerns, cost, wait time and accessibility; people will employ more harm reduction strategies following an unexpected test result; people experiencing substance dependence may be less motivated to access drug checking services and face greater barriers to service access; drug checking will impact the unregulated drug market and practices of people who sell drugs; services should be safe and comfortable spaces.

These findings highlight the importance of drug checking services like CheQpoint being confidential, free, conveniently located, welcoming and non-stigmatising. Findings can be used to inform the implementation of future drug checking services to enhance their acceptability among service users.