Research Project
Adaptation of a Paper Analytic Device for Use as a Drug-Checking Technology for Street Drugs to Reduce Opioid Overdoses and Related Fatalities
- Principal Investigator
- Swartz, James A
- Research Area(s)
- Research & Sponsored Projects
- Funding Source
- UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Abstract
Despite the current opioid epidemic showing signs of plateauing, tens of thousands continue to overdose and die, caused increasingly by adulteration or supplantation of heroin with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Efforts to reduce opioid-related overdose fatalities (OODF) including naloxone administration and ED-based treatment referrals react to and do not prevent overdoses. Although harm reduction efforts now routinely include distributing fentanyl strips for testing illicit drugs, these strips have important drawbacks limiting their effectiveness: oversensitivity to minute quantities of fentanyl giving the impression of false-positive results; no quantitative information about the amount of fentanyl present; confusing to read; and require liquefying drug samples. This pilot study would validate, calibrate, and use ecological momentary assessment to evaluate the usability of a cheap, rapid, and accurate means for testing street drugs for fentanyl and commonly used adulterants. The idPAD has been successfully validated and used to test pharmaceuticals such as sildenafil (Viagra®) and oxycodone (Oxycontin®) for counterfeiting in African countries. Preliminary study indicates it can be adapted to test street drugs, providing quantitative (amount) and qualitative (presence) information without requiring sample liquification. The pilot study would provide evidence to support testing the idPAD in a larger RCT to assess if use reduces OODF.