Showing papers in "International Journal of Drug Policy in 2021"

TL;DR: For many, these changes led to increased use and substitution for toxic and adulterated substances, which ultimately amplified PWUD's risk for experiencing related harms, including overdoses, which warrant the need for improved supports and services.

TL;DR: Overall, there is a need for regulated cannabis markets to develop more effective packaging and labelling standards to allow consumers to effectively titrate their THC intake, with the goal of promoting lower-risk cannabis use.

TL;DR: In this paper, a substantial body of modifiable risk factors for cannabis use-related health harms were identified with varying evidence quality, and twelve substantive recommendation clusters and three precautionary statements were developed through an iterative scientific expert consensus development process.

TL;DR: Cautious use of combined point-of-care detection methods, routinely paired with confirmatory drug checking may aid in early detection and monitoring of unregulated drug markets and inform targeted harm reduction strategies and health policy approaches.

TL;DR: Bad trip narratives may be a potent coping mechanism for users of psychedelics in non-controlled environments, enabling them to make sense of frightening experiences and integrate these into their life stories, even after unpleasant experiences with the drugs.

TL;DR: It is argued that ending routine police attendance at drug overdoses in Ontario would remove a major barrier to calling 911, and thus prevent the further, unnecessary loss of life in the ongoing overdose crisis.

TL;DR: In this paper, a qualitative study identified multi-level drivers of shifts in inhaled tobacco product use and access patterns during the initial COVID-19 "lockdown" period in the United States.

TL;DR: Fentanyl test strips have utility as a harm reduction tool, but they are no panacea for overdose since certain fentanyl analogues are not detected.

TL;DR: As Washington's recreational cannabis market has developed over three and a half years, trends identified in that market may serve as an early indication of potential issues in other states, and legislators and regulators in other jurisdictions with commercial non-medical cannabis markets may wish to establish policies responsive to these trends in product popularity, price, and potency.

TL;DR: This paper conducted a rapid review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods literature relating to the following Big Events: respiratory infection pandemics, natural disasters, financial crises, and heroin shortages.

TL;DR: This rapid review collates the available published evidence, expert opinions, commentaries, and reviews on the unintended pathways between COVID-19 public health responses and increasing illicit drug overdoses to offer a visual conceptual framework for these unintended pathways.

TL;DR: The reported increase in drug use among people using medical cannabis is concerning, and having a better understanding of why this is occurring is critical for developing effective harm-reduction strategies in this population.

TL;DR: It is found that structural vulnerability is linked-in a highly intersectional manner-with experiencing abusive police encounters among PWID in California's Central Valley, and in general, having a greater number of vulnerability factors was associated with increased odds of police abuse.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed trends in OD deaths in Massachusetts during COVID-19 and found that increased deaths involving stimulants, alcohol, and fentanyl reflect concerning trends in the era of COVID19.

TL;DR: It is found that both Black and Indigenous people are over-represented amongst those arrested for cannabis possession across the five cities examined, and Canadian cannabis legalization lacks measures to redress the racialized harms caused by the war on drugs.

TL;DR: It is suggested that, after controlling for known confounders, women who have a child removed experience higher odds of overdose, and these odds are highest among Indigenous women.

TL;DR: The authors explored the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to, experiences with, and motivations for OUD treatment through a qualitative analysis of public discussion forums on Reddit.

TL;DR: In 2018, two large syringe services programs (SSP) in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic (one in Baltimore City, Maryland and one in the state of Delaware) started distributing FTS and evaluated the implementation of these programs as mentioned in this paper.

TL;DR: It is argued that the persistent increase of fentanyl exposure over time, specifically in the OAT population, suggests that reduced monitoring may decrease OAT's effectiveness and negatively impact patient outcomes.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors systematically searched seven databases and conducted a gray literature search for studies that qualitatively explored patient and provider perceived barriers and facilitators to DAA treatment in our populations of interest.

TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study of de-identified urine specimens (n = 102) collected at a drug treatment program between 2017 and 2018 indicated that 61% of specimens contained methamphetamine; of the specimens containing methamphetamine, people were, on average, five years younger than those who tested negative for methamphetamine; and non-fentanyl opioids were more than three times as common in methamphetamine positive specimens.

TL;DR: A 20-item guided survey with quantitative and qualitative items was fielded between October 23-November 5, 2019 among people who use drugs in community locations (public spaces, trap houses, drug copping areas).

TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a follow-up design to compare outcomes of risk communications on risk management and harm reduction practices both at and after attending drug checking services at three English music festivals in 2017.

TL;DR: In this paper, a telephone semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 injecting drug users in Bristol, Southwest of England to examine their experiences relating to the COVID-19 public health measures; changes to opioid substitution therapy (OST) and harm reduction services; and perceived effects of COVID19 on drug use patterns and risk behaviour.

TL;DR: These findings carry important implications for expanding harm reduction services, including syringe service programs and safe injection sites, into non-urban communities that have a demonstrated need for evidence-based interventions to reduce drug-related overdose and infectious disease transmission.

TL;DR: The findings reposition drug sellers as embedded within their communities and demonstrate their potential role in alleviating the dangers of the volatile fentanyl market.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a survey with 21 harm reduction and drug treatment programs in nine states and the District of Columbia from August 2020 to January 2021 to investigate the experiences of patients receiving treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TL;DR: Linkage to care during prison transfer allowed to avoid unplanned interruptions and offered more chances to reach the end of treatment, particularly among patients with lower awareness of their HCV-Ab positivity and had previously received less treatments.

TL;DR: Telemedicine consultation practice is a more efficient strategy than UCP, mainly due to the reduction of transfer costs while preserving effectiveness and user satisfaction.