The role of on-site drug analysis within supervised injecting facilities: A case presentation of an adverse event highlighting need.
Robert PageMarianne JaunceyJonathan BrettWill WoodAmanda RoxburghPublished in: Drug and alcohol review (2024)
Where substances are novel or unknown, adverse events are often unexpected and may be more difficult to prepare for. Substance-induced acute agitation can be alarming and hazardous for people consuming drugs and those around them and may pose challenges for staff. There is a substantial evidence base for the benefits of on-site drug analysis and drug checking in reducing harms related to drug use, and in enhancing drug market monitoring. This incident was successfully managed by Medically Supervised Injecting Centre and hospital staff, with no major consequence, however clinical management could have been improved using point of care drug testing.