Payne Emily R, Thomas Guy J, Fallico Matthew, Clear Allan, Gogia Maka, Zamboni Lucila
Author Affiliations: New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute, Albany, New York.
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2025;31(2):317-327. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000002061. Epub 2024 Oct 10.
The illicit drug landscape in the United States is dynamic, featuring a risky and erratic drug supply. Drug checking programs (DCP) have been successfully implemented and studied extensively in Canada and Europe but are scarce in the United States. Integrating DCP at harm reduction programs provides an opportunity to engage people at the point-of-care and deliver a combination of harm reduction services, access to healthcare services, and linkages to treatment.
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) developed and supports operation of 8 pilot community DCP sites throughout the state. The DCP were trained to utilize Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technology to deliver real-time results to participants.
The NYSDOH community DCP pilot began development in 2022. Partnerships were formed across multiple domains including other DCP, universities, forensic laboratories, syringe service and harm reduction programs, and legal and regulatory offices within the NYSDOH. The first pilot sites began operating in mid-2023 and program expansion is on-going.
Evaluation staff were extensively engaged in development and implementation phases. Qualitative evaluation focused on barriers, facilitators, and lessons learned from program staff and technicians. Quantitative evidence was gathered to assess the reach of the DCP and accuracy of results attained by drug checking technicians during their training periods. Drug checking results helped characterize the illicit drug supply.
Development and implementation of DCP in NYS was facilitated by strong partnerships across sectors including public health and harm reduction. DCP may involve diverse partners who do not regularly collaborate, and health departments are positioned to build relationships and convene partners for program implementation. Evaluation findings highlight the importance of facilitating on-going training and technical assistance to DCP for quality assurance. The initial successes and lessons learned from the NYSDOH DCP demonstrate state public health departments' ability to successfully deploy this innovative harm reduction strategy.
美国的非法药物形势不断变化，其药物供应存在风险且不稳定。药物检测项目（DCP）在加拿大和欧洲已成功实施并得到广泛研究，但在美国却很少见。将药物检测项目纳入减少伤害项目，为在医疗服务点接触人群并提供一系列减少伤害服务、医疗服务获取途径及治疗联系提供了契机。
纽约州卫生部（NYSDOH）在全州范围内开发并支持8个社区药物检测项目试点站点的运营。药物检测项目工作人员接受培训，利用傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）技术为参与者提供实时结果。
纽约州卫生部社区药物检测项目试点于2022年开始筹备。该项目在多个领域建立了合作伙伴关系，包括其他药物检测项目、大学、法医实验室、注射器服务和减少伤害项目，以及纽约州卫生部内部的法律和监管办公室。首批试点站点于2023年年中开始运营，项目仍在不断扩展。
评估人员广泛参与了项目的开发和实施阶段。定性评估聚焦于项目工作人员和技术人员面临的障碍、促进因素及经验教训。收集定量证据以评估药物检测项目的覆盖范围以及药物检测技术人员在培训期间所获结果的准确性。药物检测结果有助于描绘非法药物供应的特征。
纽约州药物检测项目的开发和实施得益于包括公共卫生和减少伤害在内的各部门之间强有力的合作伙伴关系。药物检测项目可能涉及不同且通常不合作的伙伴，而卫生部门有能力建立关系并召集伙伴来实施项目。评估结果凸显了为确保质量而对药物检测项目进行持续培训和技术援助的重要性。纽约州卫生部药物检测项目取得的初步成功及经验教训表明，州公共卫生部门有能力成功部署这一创新性减少伤害策略。
