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Enhancing Illicit Drug Alert Communication Effectiveness

This study explores improving the effectiveness of drug alerting to reduce harms among people who use illicit drugs. It includes common adulterants, study design, feedback from peers, and recommendations for clear communication pathways. The implications for public health policy and practice are highlighted, emphasizing the need for evidence-based guidelines informed by the target population to enhance effectiveness.

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Enhancing Illicit Drug Alert Communication Effectiveness

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  1. Communicating Drug Alerts Improving the Effectiveness of Drug Alerting to Reduce Harms Among People Who Use Illicit Drugs

  2. BC Centre for Disease Control • Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) • Diagnostic and treatment services • Analytical and policy support to all health authorities and levels of government (1) • Harm Reduction (1) (2)

  3. Significant Milestones in Harm Reduction 1964 1984 1986 1989 1990 2003 (3)

  4. Common Adulterants Adapted Table (4)

  5. Study Design

  6. Participants • 32 Focus Group Participants (Regular illicit drug user) • Age Range: 23 to 70 years of age • 23 participants were between ages 40 to 60 • 17 Male/15 Female • 5 VCH Key Informants (Semi-structured interviews) • Primary contact with illicit drug users • 3 Male/2 Female • Primary Outreach Services, Primary care & Insite/Onsite

  7. Socio-economic Status

  8. Drug Use Patterns

  9. Primary Objectives • A narrative literature review was conducted • Inform focus group questions and interview guide

  10. Quality Assurance “…I see the ones that have a reputation of being a good dealer down here will always have somebody recommend them” (Focus group 4 participant) “My dealer, he cares about repeat business.”(Focus group 1 participant) “By just the way it looks” (Focus group 2 participant)

  11. Communication Pathways “Yeah, I’d share it with all my friends and anybody I run into”. (Focus group 2 participant) “We’ve got the fastest way”. (Focus group 3 participant) “friends look after friends”. (Focus group 2 participant)

  12. Recommendations • Clear Terminology • A ‘potent’ drug is perceived differently by HSP & PWUD • “that means it’s strong it works”. (Focus group 2 participant) • Preferred Mode of Communication • “Fliers”. “Web news”. “Facebook”. (Focus group 1 & 4 participants) • Visibility, Accessibility & Relevance of Postings • “As long as they are kept to date” (focus group 1 participant)

  13. Implications for Public Health Policy & Practice • Current lack of Provincial, evidence-based guidelines for communicating drug alerts • CDA can Reduce risk of mortality and morbidity associated with illicit drug use • Guidelines should be informed and evaluated by the target population to increase effectiveness • There is limited literature and research evaluating feedback from peers in Canada • Findings will be compiled into a research report and submitted for publication

  14. Questions?

  15. References (1) BC Centre for Disease Control. (2014). About BCCDC. Retrieved on April 7, 2014 from http://www.bccdc.ca/util/about/default.htm. (2) Provincial Services Health Authority. (2014). About PHSA. Retrieved on April 7, 2014 from http://www.phsa.ca/AboutPHSA/default.htm (3) BC Harm Reduction Strategies and Services. (2013). The History of Harm Reduction in British Columbia. Retrieved on April 12, 2014 from http://www.bccdc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7B9F63E8-7D50-4985-9BC2-38D78C4E77AD/0/UpdatedBCHarmReductionDocumentAug2012JAB_final.pdf. (4) Cole, C., Jones, L, McVeigh, J., Kicman, A., Qutub, S & Bellis, M.A. (April, 2010). CUT: A Guide to Adulterants. Retrieved on April 24, f http://www.cph.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/cut-a-guide-to-the-adulterants-bulking-agents-and-other-contaminants-found-in-illicit-drugs.pdf.

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