Safer Stimulant Supply: Program Outcomes.

Abstract

Objectives: With nearly 50,000 people having died since 2016 as a result of the unregulated toxic drug supply, novel approaches to care are needed. A small number of Safer Stimulant Supply programs have been piloted in Canada, which seek to provide a pharmaceutical-grade stimulant medication replacement for the toxic unregulated stimulant supply. In this paper, we describe the results of retrospective Safer Stimulant Supply program medical chart reviews.

Methods: We extracted data from program intake and check-in forms collected on an ongoing basis by the clinical teams. In total, 28 medical charts were included in this evaluation. Data collected was reported using descriptive statistics.

Results: Chart reviews showed that over the course of the program, program participants reported an overall decrease in their unregulated stimulant use. Specifically, at program intake and check-in appointments, cocaine use went from a median of 10 points/day to 0 points/day, and crystal methamphetamine use went from a median of 1.5 points/day to 0 points/day. Chart reviews also showed that program participants reported increased access to primary care and infectious disease programs and improvements in housing status.

Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that program participants found Safer Stimulant Supply programs to be impactful in addressing ongoing drug use. Safer Stimulant Supply programs remain an underutilized but important harm reduction tool to address the drug poisoning crisis.