A snapshot of injecting drug consumption from the analysis of used syringes within the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney, Australia.

Fursman, H; Finch, E; Xiao, L; Lefrançois, E; Gupta, A; Bartlett, M; Latimer, J; Chadwick, S; Roux, C; Morelato, M

A snapshot of injecting drug consumption from the analysis of used syringes within the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney, Australia.

Fursman, H Finch, E Xiao, L Lefrançois, E Gupta, A Bartlett, M Latimer, J Chadwick, S

Roux, C Morelato, M

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Drug Alcohol Rev, 2023
Issue Date:: 2023-12-25

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fursman, H
dc.contributor.author	Finch, E
dc.contributor.author	Xiao, L
dc.contributor.author	Lefrançois, E
dc.contributor.author	Gupta, A
dc.contributor.author	Bartlett, M
dc.contributor.author	Latimer, J
dc.contributor.author	Chadwick, S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2006-9841
dc.contributor.author	Roux, C
dc.contributor.author	Morelato, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7616-0623
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-16T00:35:23Z
dc.date.available	2023-11-30
dc.date.available	2024-01-16T00:35:23Z
dc.date.issued	2023-12-25
dc.identifier.citation	Drug Alcohol Rev, 2023
dc.identifier.issn	0959-5236
dc.identifier.issn	1465-3362
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174519
dc.description.abstract	INTRODUCTION: The administration of illicit drugs by injection is associated with considerable harm, including an increased risk of overdose. The chemical analysis of used syringes can enhance knowledge on injecting drug consumption beyond traditional data sources (self-report surveys). This additional information may be useful during significant global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine a snapshot of the drugs injected at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Sydney, Australia, in 2019-2020. METHODS: Used syringes were collected from MSIC across three periods throughout 2019 and 2020 (February 2019, March-April 2020 and June-September 2020). Drug residues were extracted from used syringes using methanol before detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The chemical analysis results were compared to self-report data obtained from MSIC clients. RESULTS: Heroin (46-53%), methamphetamine (24-34%) and pharmaceutical opioids (15-27%) were the most common drug residues detected. The chemically detected drugs had declining coherence with the drugs self-reported by MSIC clients across the time periods examined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in the drugs injected (heroin, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical opioids) across the three periods collected throughout varying COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Changes in the frequency of other drugs injected and discrepancies between chemical analysis and self-report were potentially related to regulatory changes, degradation or misinformed sales. Routine chemical analysis of used syringes has provided an alternative information source to promote awareness of current drug trends and aid harm reduction.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP160100352
dc.relation.ispartof	Drug Alcohol Rev
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/dar.13803
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 16 Studies in Human Society, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse
dc.subject.classification	42 Health sciences
dc.subject.classification	44 Human society
dc.subject.classification	52 Psychology
dc.title	A snapshot of injecting drug consumption from the analysis of used syringes within the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney, Australia.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-01-16T00:35:21Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The administration of illicit drugs by injection is associated with considerable harm, including an increased risk of overdose. The chemical analysis of used syringes can enhance knowledge on injecting drug consumption beyond traditional data sources (self-report surveys). This additional information may be useful during significant global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine a snapshot of the drugs injected at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Sydney, Australia, in 2019-2020. METHODS: Used syringes were collected from MSIC across three periods throughout 2019 and 2020 (February 2019, March-April 2020 and June-September 2020). Drug residues were extracted from used syringes using methanol before detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The chemical analysis results were compared to self-report data obtained from MSIC clients. RESULTS: Heroin (46-53%), methamphetamine (24-34%) and pharmaceutical opioids (15-27%) were the most common drug residues detected. The chemically detected drugs had declining coherence with the drugs self-reported by MSIC clients across the time periods examined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in the drugs injected (heroin, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical opioids) across the three periods collected throughout varying COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Changes in the frequency of other drugs injected and discrepancies between chemical analysis and self-report were potentially related to regulatory changes, degradation or misinformed sales. Routine chemical analysis of used syringes has provided an alternative information source to promote awareness of current drug trends and aid harm reduction.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174519