Integrating a low-barrier drug checking platform into public health responses to overdose

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Measures to ensure a safer drug supply are an essential component of reducing overdose deaths. Fentanyl test strips are fast, sensitive, and cheap, but cannot provide any information on potency, purity, or the existence of other harmful adulterants. There is an urgent need for technologies that can identify all components present and provide information on the concentration of active ingredients. British Columbia is the epicenter of Canadas overdose crisis and Vancouver Island experiences overdose deaths rates more than twice the national average. Researchers and student trainees at the University of Victoria are leaders in employing portable spectroscopy to drug checking as a public health response to overdose. In collaboration with Island Health Authority, we propose to expand on our current drug checking services to champion one technology which has the potential to meet all needs: highly sensitive to detect low concentrations, low cost to enable broad distribution, and ease of use to either eliminate, or significantly reduce the need for scientists to operate instruments and interpret results. We are a unique collaboration of Chemistry and Social Work supported by Computer Sciences working within a Patient Oriented Research framework that engages health care users, health care providers and health system decision makers. Our experience in operating a suite of the best portable spectrometers available in health and harm reduction settings informs this proposal to construct and implement an integrated platform that continues technological advances to improve portability, capability, speed and accuracy but also at a lower-cost and with a user interface that does not require employing highly trained technicians. Our project proposes a drug checking platform that has the potential to overcome the obstacles of instrument and staffing costs to facilitate public health to most fully integrate drug checking within the overdose strategies.