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Handheld Raman Spectroscopy in the First UK Home Office Licensed Pharmacist-Led Community Drug Checking Service

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Mullin

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Mark Scott

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Giorgia Vaccaro

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Rosalind Gittins

    (Clinical Department, WDP-Westminster Drug Project, 18 Dartmouth St., London SW1H 9BL, UK)

  • Salvatore Ferla

    (Pharmacy, Medical School, The Grove Extension, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Fabrizio Schifano

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Amira Guirguis

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
    Pharmacy, Medical School, The Grove Extension, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

Abstract

Across the world, the interest in point-of-care drug checking as a harm-reduction intervention is growing. This is an attempt to improve intelligence about current drug trends and reduce drug-related morbidity and mortality. In the UK, drug-related harm is increasing exponentially year after year. As such, specialist community treatment services are exploring new methods to improve engagement with people who use drugs (PWUD), who may require support for their problematic drug use. This need has driven the requirement to pilot an on-site, time-responsive, readily available drug-checking service at point-of-support centres. In this study, we piloted the UK’s first Home Office-licensed drug-checking service that was embedded into a community substance-misuse service and had all on-site analysis and harm-reduction interventions led and delivered by pharmacists. We report on the laboratory findings from the associated confirmatory analysis (UHPLC-MS, GC-MS, and 1 H NMR) to assess the performance of the on-site hand-held Raman spectrometer and outline the challenges of providing real-time analysis of psychoactive substances in a clinical setting. Whilst acknowledging the limitation of the small sample size ( n = 13), we demonstrate the potential suitability of using this technology for the purposes of screening substances in community-treatment services. Portability of equipment and timeliness of results are important and only very small samples may be provided by people who use the service. The challenges of accurately identifying substances from complex mixtures were equally found with both point-of-care Raman spectroscopy and laboratory confirmatory-analysis techniques. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Mullin & Mark Scott & Giorgia Vaccaro & Rosalind Gittins & Salvatore Ferla & Fabrizio Schifano & Amira Guirguis, 2023. "Handheld Raman Spectroscopy in the First UK Home Office Licensed Pharmacist-Led Community Drug Checking Service," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-27, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4793-:d:1091741
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wendy Masterton & Danilo Falzon & Gillian Burton & Hannah Carver & Bruce Wallace & Elizabeth V. Aston & Harry Sumnall & Fiona Measham & Rosalind Gittins & Vicki Craik & Joe Schofield & Simon Little & , 2022. "A Realist Review of How Community-Based Drug Checking Services Could Be Designed and Implemented to Promote Engagement of People Who Use Drugs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-25, September.
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