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Browsing by Author "Piercey, Cianna J., author"

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    Polysubstance use protective strategies for concert and festival contexts: inventory development and characterization of personal drug checking practices
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Piercey, Cianna J., author; Karoly, Hollis C., advisor; Conner, Bradley T., committee member; Snodgrass, Jeffrey G., committee member; Tompkins, Sara A., committee member
    Polysubstance use is prevalent at electronic dance music (EDM) events and attendees are at elevated risk of experiencing adverse substance-related outcomes. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) implemented at the individual level (e.g., test drugs for presence of fentanyl) may help to mitigate substance-related consequences such as accidental overdose. While there is considerable evidence demonstrating the efficacy of PBS for alcohol and cannabis use, little research has examined PBS for other substances and there are currently no validated measures of polysubstance use PBS. Participants (aged 18-65) were two community samples of EDM event attendees in Colorado. Both studies used field methods to survey event attendees on their substance use and PBS use patterns. Study 1 (N=450) was conducted in two phases with the goal of developing and establishing initial content and criterion validity for an inventory of polysubstance use PBS. Study 2 (N=227) involved a deeper exploration of drug checking PBS (i.e., use of reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips) and polysubstance use patterns among attendees of a 4-day music festival. Study 1 results indicate that EDM event attendees employ a variety of PBS to protect themselves while engaging in polysubstance use at concerts and festivals. Polysubstance use PBS include strategies related to collective community welfare (e.g., "When attending an event with friends, I make sure to let others in the group know what drugs I am taking"), dosing practices (e.g., "If I am mixing drugs, the quantity I take of each drug is lower than if I take them separately"), mindfulness and body awareness (e.g., "I check in with myself while using drugs to see how I am feeling"), environmental safety (e.g., "Before using drugs at an event, I familiarize myself with the location of medical stations and/or harm reduction services"), and minimizing risks associated with an unregulated illicit drug supply (e.g., "I analyze my drugs with fentanyl test strips when applicable"). Polysubstance use PBS (i.e., mean frequency of use and mean perceived effectiveness) were negatively associated with past-year consequences (i.e., mean frequency and total number of consequences). Study 2 results indicate that participants engaged in differential patterns of polysubstance use that varied significantly by festival event day, with participants using a greater mean number of substances on days 2 and 3 of the festival. The percentage of participants having ever used reagent test kits and FTS was 75.3% and 66.5% respectively. When asked how often participants ensure their drugs are tested prior to consumption, participants responding "always" or "most of the time" was 54.4% for use of reagent test kits and 59.4% for use of FTS. 60.8% of participants reported that they had never consumed a drug that reagent tested differently than expected and 87.9% of participants reported that they had never consumed a drug that tested positive for fentanyl. Engagement with polysubstance use PBS appears to help individuals attending EDM events to reduce substance-related harms. Given that perceived effectiveness of PBS was also linked to reduced harm, interventions aimed at increasing beliefs related to PBS efficacy may be useful. Reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips seem to empower festival attendees to make informed decisions related to their substance use and health. Thus, there is a critical need to continue expanding access to drug checking tools, training, and services for this at-risk population.