Pill Testing as a Harm Reduction Strategy

Introduction

Background

Young people are commonly associated to drug consumption, which has further displayed patterns across the general population. In many countries, the dominance of the dance-music culture is said to have enhanced the connection between youths and drugs. The emergency of the “Party Drugs” in Australia was witnessed in 1970s and 1980s where youths delved into consumption of ecstasy, methamphetamines, and psychoactive substances (Groves 2018). The trend of drug consumption normally affects young people aged 18-29 years old, who are believed to enjoy most of the dance parties as well as music festivals. The prevalence of the hedonistic lifestyle largely shapes identity and describes the social capital where pleasure is determined through consumption of alcohol as well as other drugs. Incidences of tragic loss of lives has, however, raised an alarm in Australia and the issue of party drugs is currently argued as a social, political and media agenda. A similar experience has been witnessed in United Kingdom and other European countries thereby making it a social issue that has attracted the attention of the policymakers (Strang, 2015).

In real life situation, there are still problems that regard the capacity of the policy in responding towards the emerging patterns of drug abuse and social ills. A study on the trends across Europe shows that the opioids and heroin have led to a wide range of health and social problems in the society (Webster et al., 2011). The impact is also felt in the worsening rates of mortality, as well as morbidity as a result of overdose and other ways of drug abuse. Some of the measures that have been put in place to counter incidences of death and overdose include drug checking and pill testing. The latter has largely been considered as part of the harm reduction strategy equated to adulterant screening believed to have emerged in 1990s. A similar approach was realized in Netherlands through the national policy and the Dancesafe initiative that worked perfectly in the United States. Pill testing has been tried in France, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, and Germany.

Under most circumstances, testing would entail the volunteering attendees who provide a sample of drugs that pave way for further analysis to gauge the purity and composition of the drugs. While some of the healthcare operators prefer the testing within the medical facility, the in-mobile facilities have been thought to be more effective as they allow the shift of services from one place to the next one (Clark et al., 2014). The results are likely to be posted on the event websites and information boards with subsequent activities carried out in partnership with the local police, the event promoters, as well as the healthcare services. As much as most of the countries depend on pill testing as a harm reduction strategy in combating overdose and deaths, case studies rarely focuses on the extent pill testing is likely to prevent deaths and overdoses (Strang et al., 2013). This means that there is a research gap that calls upon research efforts in addressing the measurable impact of pill testing, and whether the method stands out in other relevant cases.

Problem Statement

According to Groves (2018), over 11.2% of the Australian youths aged above 14 years are said to have tested ecstasy in the year 2016. Over 2.2% reported lifetime impact with the trend also cutting across the western nations. It is also interesting that the trend has never faded, which raises attention on whether the prevailing initiatives are effective or not. With pill testing in place, the question remains as to whether the method has been effective over the recent past or not.

Research Questions

The main aim of this research is to examine the extent to which pill testing can prevent deaths and overdose among the Australian youths. This is supported by the following research questions.

What are some of incidents that share cases of overdose and deaths in Australia?

What is the rate of deaths and overdose among the Australian youths?

How do demographic and social factors lead to incidences of overdose?

What are the possible measures and initiatives put in place to contain overdose and deaths?

Does pill testing have any impact on the Australian youths?

How effective is pill testing in controlling social ills and cases of overdose and loss of lives among youths?

Summary

The research report has shared the insights on pill testing within the Australian context. The report notes the problem of drugs in the contemporary social life and chances of reducing harm across the families as well as the entire community. Based on the analysis of the collected data and literature, the issue of party drugs seemingly cuts across the music festival and club attendees. With an exploding rate of drug abuse, the trend has challenged the Australian drug policy with dynamic spaces indicating the escalated consumption of methamphetamines and ecstasy. The incapacitated policy seemingly gives room for the use of pill testing, which is believed to impact the process of monitoring both the content and quality of the drugs used by the Australian youths. The findings indicate that pill testing can be a convenient approach if more youths are willing to volunteer in providing samples.

References

Groves, A., 2018. ‘Worth the test?’Pragmatism, pill testing and drug policy in Australia. Harm reduction journal, 15(1), p.12.

The research aims at evaluating the impact of pill testing over the policy reforms on overdose and deaths in Australia. The study draws from the theoretical framework of both the national as well as international research while fostering the harm minimization strategy.

Strang, J., Bird, S.M. and Parmar, M.K., 2013. Take-home emergency naloxone to prevent heroin overdose deaths after prison release: rationale and practicalities for the N-ALIVE randomized trial. Journal of Urban Health, 90(5), pp.983-996.

The research utilizes the N-ALIVE RCT in investigatong if the heroine overdose deaths are likely to be prevented through early provosion of the supply of naloxone.

Webster, L.R., Cochella, S., Dasgupta, N., Fakata, K.L., Fine, P.G., Fishman, S.M., Grey, T., Johnson, E.M., Lee, L.K., Passik, S.D. and Peppin, J., 2011. An analysis of the root causes for opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. Pain Medicine, 12(suppl_2), pp.S26-S35.

The report reflects the report released by a panel of experts who examined the risk factors and causes of opioid related. The research also presents recommendations towards reduction of death rates.

Strang, J., 2015. Death matters: understanding heroin/opiate overdose risk and testing potential to prevent deaths. Addiction, 110, pp.27-35.

The research conducted an experimental study that investigated the overdose characteritiscs among groups of survivors. The research also looked into interventions such as the pill testing in containing the fatal outcome.

Clark, A.K., Wilder, C.M. and Winstanley, E.L., 2014. A systematic review of community opioid overdose prevention and naloxone distribution programs. Journal of addiction medicine, 8(3), pp.153-163.

The study presents a literatrure review of the recent state of the opioid overdose prerevention programs. This includes the impact behind distribution of naxolone and chances of introducing pill testing.