Kits allow drug users to test drugs for safety | News

Interior Health is joining a new research project to provide people who use substances with take-home kits to check whether their drugs are safe.

“We know using drugs alone presents a significant risk amidst a toxic, unpredictable and illegal drug supply that is taking three to four lives every single day,” said Judy Darcy, minister of mental health and addictions, in a news release.

“Drug checking is an important tool in our toolbox, and through this research project we can learn more about how to keep people safer and help them find a pathway to hope.”

IH, Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control are involved in the project.

Clients will receive five free test strips, with instructions, to take home so they can check whether their substances may contain fentanyl, which was responsible for approximately 87% of illicit drug overdose deaths in 2018 in B.C.

The take-home kits will be available in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Merritt and Nelson.

In Kelowna, Interior Health is partnering with the Living Positive Resource Centre for the three-month study, said Jessica Bridgeman, regional harm reduction co-ordinator for Interior Health. Kits will be available through the resource centre at 255 Lawrence Ave.

In Penticton, IH is partnering with the South Okanagan Women In Need Society, 1027 Westminster Ave. W., which will have the kits.

The Vernon partner will be the Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach Program, part of the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society.

The research study will compare results of take-home drug checking with drug-checking services already offered.

“Using the test strips will allow people to identify if there is fentanyl in their drugs so they can make informed decisions about how to reduce their risk of overdose,” said Dr. Jane Buxton, medical lead for harm reduction, with the Centre for Disease Control.

The test strips were originally developed to check urine for the presence of fentanyl, but in 2016, in light of the overdose crisis, VCH pioneered the use of the strips to check the drugs themselves for fentanyl. A small amount of a drug is mixed with a few drops of water, the test strip is inserted into the solution, and a positive or negative for fentanyl is revealed within seconds.

“Using the test strips has shown that when people get a positive fentanyl result, they are more likely to reduce their dose and less likely to overdose,” said Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health.

“We know that most people dying from overdoses die while using alone,” said Lysyshyn. “We’re hoping that giving people the opportunity to check their drugs for fentanyl on their own could help them make safer choices and save lives.”

A new report from the BC Coroners Service said that 58% of drug deaths in the first three month of this year occurred inside private residences. Overall, 88% of illicit drug deaths occurred indoors, including in social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters and hotels, the report said.

QUICKFACTS

On Wednesday, the BC Coroners Service released two reports on illicit drug deaths and fentanyl-detected deaths to the end of March.

Key findings include:

— Vancouver Coastal Health Authority has the highest rate of illicit drug overdose deaths (28 deaths per 100,000 individuals) followed by Interior Health Authority (23 deaths per 100,000 individuals) in 2019. Overall, the rate of illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. was 22 deaths per 100,000 individuals.

— There have been 44 overdose deaths in Interior Health to the end of March. IH had 230 deaths in 2018 and 244 in 2017.

— Fraser Health Authority had the highest number (79) of illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected in 2019, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health (71) and Interior Health Authority (36).

— There have been eight fentanyl-detected deaths in Kelowna so far this year and five each in Penticton and Vernon.

— The monthly average for illicit drug deaths for the first quarter of 2019 (89 deaths per month) in B.C. is down 32% from the same period in 2018 (132 deaths per month).

— More than two-thirds of the illicit-drug deaths in the first quarter of 2019 involved people aged 30 to 59. Males accounted for four in every five of all illicit-drug deaths.

— Fentanyl or its analogues were detected in approximately 85% of illicit drug deaths.

— Carfentanil was detected in over one-quarter (64 of 227) of the fentanyl-detected deaths.

— There were no deaths at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.