Perspectives on rapid fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction practice among young adults who use drugs: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2016, drug overdose deaths exceeded 64,000 in the United States, driven by a sixfold increase in deaths attributable to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS), used to detect fentanyl in illicit drugs, may help inform people who use drugs about their risk of fentanyl exposure prior to consumption. This qualitative study assessed perceptions of FTS among young adults.

Methods

From May to September 2017, we recruited a convenience sample of 93 young adults in Rhode Island (age 18-35 years) with self-reported drug use in the past 30 days to participate in a pilot study aimed at better understanding perspectives of using take-home FTS for personal use. Participants completed a baseline quantitative survey, then completed a training to lea

SUBMITTER: Goldman JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6325714 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature