DRUG CHECKING SERVICE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR CONTACTING WITH DRUG - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

DRUG CHECKING SERVICE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR CONTACTING WITH DRUG USERS AND DETECTING NEW TRENDS MIREIA VENTURA VILAMALA, PhD Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo. Energy Control Club Health, Zurich 9 June 2010

DRUG CHECKING A RISK REDUCTION STRATEGY OBJECTIVES 1. Establish contact with drug users with the objective to provide them with information about the composition of their drugs. 2. Improve our knowledge about the situation of illegal drug market and early detection of new trends. 3. Make this information available to all stakeholders involved.

OBJECTIVE 1: TYPES OF ANALYSIS TWO APPROACHES On site in recreational Energy Control’s venue settings (Barcelona)

TYPES OF ANALYSIS Colorimetric tests Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 0% 5% MDMA crystal MDMA Pills 2006 (n=392) Speed TYPES OF SUBSTANCES ANALYSED Cocaine Ketamine RC's MDMA crystal Evolution of analized substances MDMA Pills 2007 (n=509) Speed Cocaine Ketamine RC's MDMA crystal MDMA Pills 2008 (n= 1082) Speed Cocaine Ketamine RC's MDMA crystal MDMA Pills 2009 (n= 1622) Speed Cocaine Ketamine RC's MDMA crystal 2010 (n=542) MDMA Pills Speed Cocaine Ketamine RC's

OBJECTIVE 1: EVALUATION OBJECTIVES • Which is the users profile and their motivations to use the service? • Is the service effective for reaching to “hard-to-reach” users? • Is the service able to keep the interest to users? • Has the service potential to become a collective strategy?

OBJECTIVE 1: EVALUATION METHOD • An on-line survey was sent to all the users of the service that gave us their email. • Data was collected since January 2009 to May 2010. It was answered by 311 different users. • The survey was anonymous and took 10-15 minutes to be completed.

OBJECTIVE 1: EVALUATION RESULTS Which is the users profile and their motivations to use the service? • Most of respondents were male (77,74%) and 22,26% were female ( n =311 ) • For the rest of characteristics we found an heterogenic profile. In relation to, for example, economical incomes, education or job situation. Male’s motivations Female’s motivations 1. To know the purity of the substance 1. Concern about their own health 2. To know the purity of the substance 2. Concern about their own health 3. Concern about friend’s health 3. Concern about warnings

OBJECTIVE 1: EVALUATION RESULTS Is the service effective for reaching to “hard-to-reach” users? For every 10 respondents, 6 of them said that would not have contacted drug related prevention services. Is the service able to keep the interest to users? 98,36% of all the respondents said that are going to test again. Has the service the potential to become a collective strategy? 95,36% of all the respondents said they would explain the existence of this service to their friends.

OBJECTIVE 2: DETECT NEW TRENDS • Change of presentation of MDMA • Lack of availability of MDMA • Re-apparition of m-CPP • Expansion of other drugs • Emerge of toxic adulterants

OBJECTIVE 2: DETECT NEW TRENDS CHANGE OF PRESENTATION OF MDMA The amount of pills available has progressively fallen down. In its place, MDMA has been sold as crystal/powder. Presentation of MDMA analyzed 100% 80% Crystal Pills 60% 40% 20% BUSCAR GRÀFIC CAUDE 0% 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Due to this change on the presentation had emerged a new ways of taking MDMA which implies more risks to users.

OBJECTIVE 2: DETECT NEW TRENDS LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF MDMA N= 31 N=157 N= 97 N=93 In 2009, 46,4% of the pills analysed contained m-CPP

OBJECTIVE 2: DETECT NEW TRENDS EMERGING OF NEW ADULTERANTS AND EXPANSION OF OTHER DRUGS 2CB PILLS % of mCPP in extasis samples 50% 40% 30% Crystal Pills 20% 10% 0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 In 2010, 43% pills analyzed contained m-CPP

OBJECTIVE 2: DETECT NEW TRENDS EMERGING OF TOXIC ADULTERANTS Samples of cocaine tainted with levamisole 80,0 69,6% 70,0 67,8% 60,0 50,0 52,6% 40,0 37,8% 30,0 20,0 10,0 9,1% 0,0 September Octuber November Desember 1st cuadrimester 2010

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY • Infostands • Energy control’s website • Forums and other websites where drug users could be reached • Social and health workers • Administration • Media

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY POPULAR SUBSTANCES-DIFUSION ON SITE

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY POPULAR SUBSTANCES-DIFUSION ON SITE

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY POPULAR SUBSTANCES-PRESS RELEASE (JUNE 2009)

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY WARNINGS RELATED WITH LESS KNOWN SUBSTANCES

OBJECTIVE 3: INFORMATION DELIVERY WARNINGS FOR DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES To the users by personal communication To the national Health Department To the medical collective

CONCLUSIONS Since adulteration is one of the main worries for the users, a Drug Checking service is adjusted to their needs. When we provide them with a service addressed to that need is more likely that users came to it. Our results can indicate that they are reached by our service. As the current situation is so variable, with a drug market that changes and is able to introduce new substances and adulterants in a short period of time, it’s of great importance to be in contact with users and maintain it over time. The information provided by this service in terms of drug used, adulterants present in drugs or patterns of use is extremely useful for early responses.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION mireia@energycontrol.org www.energycontrol.org Mireia Ventura Contact: