We conducted a costing analysis of a new pilot drug checking service that employed an FTIR spectrometer, fentanyl test strips and confirmatory testing in Rhode Island from January 2023-May 2023. We used microcosting methods to determine the overall cost during this period and cost per drug checked, reflecting realistic service capacity. These findings demonstrate feasibility and inform the resources needed to scale-up drug checking services to reduce overdose risk.
Language: English
Costing analysis of a point-of-care drug checking program in Rhode Island
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Drug checking project cuts overdoses
Supported by the N.C. Collaboratory, epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta and his team analyze street drugs and alert communities about dangers.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Drug Detection, Analysis, and Monitoring Workshop Report
This report is a summary of a workshop convened to capture the analytical and data challenges inherent to the detection, identification, and monitoring of illicit drugs in the United States – specifically highlighting current practices, challenges, and opportunities for growth within communities.
CDC – What You Can Do to Test for Fentanyl
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables).
FTS can inform people about the presence of fentanyl so they can take steps to reduce their risk of overdose.
National Council for Mental Wellbeing – Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed this brief to share considerations for health departments considering implementing drug checking programs.
Remedy Alliance for the People – Drug Checking Implementation Workbook
This resource is intended for harm reduction advocates, administrators, program directors, and anyone who wants to start building a point-of-care and community-based drug checking service using an infrared spectrometer. This workbook will walk through the steps required to start a drug checking service: from conceptualizing the program, incorporating community feedback, purchasing equipment, and hiring staff, through the implementation of the service and continuing education.
DrugChecki.ng Comprehensive Drug Checking Resource Database
This independently run website houses a huge collection of reliable drug checking resources
Forensic Technology Center of Excellence – An Introduction to Drug Checking and Its Role in Harm Reduction
Provides an overview of harm reduction services and what value they provide to PWUD
Describes modes of drug checking within harm reduction settings, and offers observations and lessons learned from emerging drug checking needs
Drug checking services for people who use drugs: a systematic review
Drug checking services provide people who use drugs with chemical analysis results of their drug samples while simultaneously monitoring the unregulated drug market. We sought to identify and synthesize literature on the following domains: (a) the influence of drug checking services on the behaviour of people who use drugs; (b) monitoring of drug markets by drug checking services; and (c) outcomes related to models of drug checking services.
