Shrestha Shikhar, Cyr Kevin, Hajinazarian Grace, Dillon Jaime, Oh Takkyung, Pustz Jennifer, Stopka Thomas J
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Life Connection Center, Lowell, MA, USA.
Subst Use Addctn J. 2025 Apr;46(2):291-301. doi: 10.1177/29767342241265181. Epub 2024 Aug 3.
Xylazine, an adulterant in local drug supplies, has been detected in approximately 30% of opioid samples submitted for testing in Massachusetts. A better understanding of local risks, harms, and use preferences is needed to combat xylazine-related impacts on local communities.
Through the STOP-OD Lowell study, we aimed to assess local xylazine awareness through in-depth interviews with local community stakeholders (n = 15) and local people who use drugs (PWUD; n = 15) and surveys with local PWUD (n = 94). The qualitative interviews focused on the current drug landscape and knowledge of adulterants in Lowell, and the results informed subsequent survey design. Through our survey, we examined whether PWUD were aware of xylazine and their willingness to use xylazine test strips.
Most community stakeholders and PWUD had limited awareness about the presence and impact of xylazine as an adulterant. Forty-seven (50%) survey respondents were aware of xylazine. When provided with more information about xylazine, 65% of all respondents expressed a willingness to use xylazine test strips. PWUD who had received naloxone training, reported using with others, and using tester shots were more willing to use xylazine test strips.
Our findings are congruent with existing literature that indicates that there is limited awareness of xylazine among PWUD, and they consider xylazine an unwanted adulterant. We also found that PWUD who use other harm reduction measures are more willing to use xylazine test strips. The increase in xylazine warrants additional community-level interventions such as wound management and local testing infrastructure. Further research is needed to understand better the impacts associated with xylazine use, effective harm reduction techniques, and perceptions of xylazine test strips.
在马萨诸塞州提交检测的阿片类药物样本中，约30%检测出含有甲苯噻嗪这种当地毒品供应中的掺杂物。为应对甲苯噻嗪对当地社区的影响，需要更好地了解当地的风险、危害及使用偏好。
通过“洛厄尔停止过量用药”研究，我们旨在通过对当地社区利益相关者（n = 15）和当地吸毒者（n = 15）进行深入访谈以及对当地吸毒者进行调查（n = 94）来评估当地对甲苯噻嗪的认知情况。定性访谈聚焦于洛厄尔当前的毒品形势以及对掺杂物的了解，其结果为后续的调查设计提供了参考。通过我们的调查，我们研究了吸毒者是否知晓甲苯噻嗪以及他们使用甲苯噻嗪检测试纸的意愿。
大多数社区利益相关者和吸毒者对甲苯噻嗪作为掺杂物的存在及影响的认知有限。47名（50%）调查受访者知晓甲苯噻嗪。在获得更多关于甲苯噻嗪的信息后，65%的所有受访者表示愿意使用甲苯噻嗪检测试纸。接受过纳洛酮培训、报告与他人一起使用毒品以及使用过测试注射剂的吸毒者更愿意使用甲苯噻嗪检测试纸。
我们的研究结果与现有文献一致，即吸毒者对甲苯噻嗪的认知有限，且他们认为甲苯噻嗪是有害的掺杂物。我们还发现，采取其他减少伤害措施的吸毒者更愿意使用甲苯噻嗪检测试纸。甲苯噻嗪的增加需要额外的社区层面干预措施，如伤口处理和当地检测基础设施。需要进一步研究以更好地了解与甲苯噻嗪使用相关的影响、有效的减少伤害技术以及对甲苯噻嗪检测试纸的看法。
