A longitudinal study of behavioural outcomes following a visit to the Boom Festival 2018 drug checking service: individual and group level results

Abstract

Drug checking services (DCS) allow people who use drugs to submit drug samples for chemical analysis and provide feedback of results and counseling. Our study tested the validity of behavioral intention measures against reports of actual behavior and the adoption of protective behavioral strategies. DCS patrons at Boom Festival 2018 completed three surveys during the festival (pre-drug analysis 343 participants submitted 671 drug samples, post-drug analysis 290 participants reported on 341 drug sample results, three-day follow-up 145 participants reported on 195 drug sample results) and another survey after six months (n = 71). At third-day follow-up, when the results were ‘not the expected substance’ (N = 35), 86% (n = 30) reported they ‘didn’t take the substance’; 11% (n = 4) ‘took a smaller dose than initially planned’ and only 3% (n = 1) ‘took it as planned’. In 71% (n = 63) of the matched post-test and third-day follow-up answers (N = 89), the behavior reported at third-day matched the behavioral intention reported during post-test. After six months, there was a slight increase in most harm-reduction behaviors; however, there was a substantial drop-out among respondents. Results support the hypothesis that DCS promote the adoption of safer drug use practices; however, further research is needed to evaluate the medium- and long-term effects of DCS.

Keywords:

• Longitudinal study
• follow-up study
• behavioral change
• drug checking
• harm reduction
• drug education and prevention
• Boom Festival

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Stephen Chapman and Stefanie Jones for reviewing the manuscript. Luísa Catita and Sofia Brito for reviewing the statistical data. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of all those who were involved in the harm reduction team working at Boom Festival 2018; specially the data collection team: Guiem Mir Fuster; Filipa Gonçalves; Francisco Mouga and Frédéric Maari; the Drug Checking team: Mireia Ventura; Ivan Fornis; Mar Cunha; Steffen Breinlinger; Brujita; Xoán Carbón; Cristina Gil; Raoul Koning; Kasia Berkowicz, and all the team and shift coordinators: Cristiana Vale Pires, Ana Correia, Inês Diniz, Pedro Monteiro, Jose Lopez; Kira Weir and Alex Loverre. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelics Studies and the Drug Policy Alliance that have gently sponsored our research gifts. A special thanks to the Boom Festival organization for their unconditional endorsement of harm reduction and for their openness and support to this research project in particular.

Disclosure statement

Helena Valente and Daniel Martins are members of Kosmicare. Monica J. Barratt is a volunteer of the Loop Australia.

Notes

1 Kosmicare is a non-profit organization that works to promote safer drug use patterns and behaviors, as well as implement more humane and evidence based policies and practices. More information about Kosmicare available online at: https://kosmicare.org

Additional information

Funding

Helena Valente is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, through a research grant with the reference PD/BD/135079/2017 supported by the European Social Fund and funds of the MCTES. Daniel Martins is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, through a research grant with the reference PD/BD/135122/2017 supported by the European Social Fund and funds of the MCTES.