Narcotica co-hosts Aaron Ferguson and Troy Farah spoke with Charlton Roverson, the Eastern Regional Coordinator with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition in Fayetteville and Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, a pharmaco-epidemiologist and scientist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who helps run the UNC Street Drug Analysis Lab.
Population: General Audiences
Narcotica Podcast – Episode 87: Drug Testing Equals Empowerment with Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta and Charlton Roverson
AMERSA Podcast Series – Harm Reduction: Compassionate Care for People who use Drugs
Episode 1: Test your drugs, not your limits – the role of advanced drug checking in harm reduction
Costing analysis of a point-of-care drug checking program in Rhode Island
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.
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
