PMID- 38515184
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20240325
LR  - 20240325
IS  - 1477-7517 (Electronic)
IS  - 1477-7517 (Linking)
VI  - 21
IP  - 1
DP  - 2024 Mar 21
TI  - Harm reduction behaviours and harm experiences of people who use 
      3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
PG  - 67
LID - 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y [doi]
LID - 67
AB  - BACKGROUND: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is drug of high prevalence 
      in Aotearoa New Zealand and is the primary drug analysed by legal drug checking 
      services. We aimed to address the gap in literature pertaining to MDMA-related 
      harm reduction behaviour and harm experiences within the country. METHODS: An 
      online survey was used to assess the harm reduction behaviours (e.g., limiting 
      consumption, planning use, seeking information) of people who use MDMA, in 
      addition to their use of reagent testing and the major national drug checking and 
      harm reduction service, KnowYourStuffNZ. RESULTS: In total, 915 people completed 
      the survey (60.7% females, aged 18-65, median = 24, IQR = 20-28). Frequency of 
      various MDMA-related harm reduction behaviours differed, although these were 
      carried out relatively frequently by most participants. Those who reported 
      experiencing harm (physical, psychological, spiritual, social) from MDMA, or 
      another drug presumed to be MDMA, reported less frequent harm reduction 
      behaviours than non-harmed consumers. Reagent testing of MDMA had been conducted 
      by 42.3% of the sample. Approximately 27% of the sample had used KnowYourStuffNZ 
      services. Of KnowYourStuffNZ clients, 95.9% reported learning about harm 
      reduction, and 53.3% reported changing their behaviour because of the service. 
      Reasons for not using the KnowYourStuffNZ service were primarily lack of 
      availability in local area (32.8%) or at relevant events (51.8%), and lack of 
      concern with substance quality (29.8%). MDMA harm was reported by 14.4% of the 
      sample, whilst reported harm was more common from consumption of presumably 
      non-MDMA substances, self-reported as being mistaken for MDMA. Harm was primarily 
      physical or psychological. Potential MDMA dependence was apparent in 6.9% of the 
      sample. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight potential targets for harm reduction 
      education and interventions and emphasize the need for greater availability of 
      readily accessible drug checking services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
CI  - (c) 2024. The Author(s).
FAU - Whelan, Jai
AU  - Whelan J
AD  - Deparment of Psychology, The University of Otago, William James Building, Level 
      1, 275 Leith Walk, Otepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand. jai.whelan@postgrad.otago.ac.nz.
FAU - Noller, Geoff
AU  - Noller G
AD  - Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, The 
      University of Otago, Otepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand.
FAU - Ward, Ryan D
AU  - Ward RD
AD  - Deparment of Psychology, The University of Otago, William James Building, Level 
      1, 275 Leith Walk, Otepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20240321
PL  - England
TA  - Harm Reduct J
JT  - Harm reduction journal
JID - 101153624
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - *N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/analysis
MH  - *Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology
MH  - Harm Reduction
MH  - New Zealand/epidemiology
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
PMC - PMC10956294
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - Aotearoa
OT  - Drug use
OT  - Harm
OT  - Harm reduction
OT  - MDMA
OT  - New Zealand
OT  - Survey
COIS- The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
EDAT- 2024/03/22 06:44
MHDA- 2024/03/25 06:43
PMCR- 2024/03/21
CRDT- 2024/03/22 01:43
PHST- 2023/09/27 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2024/03/01 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2024/03/25 06:43 [medline]
PHST- 2024/03/22 06:44 [pubmed]
PHST- 2024/03/22 01:43 [entrez]
PHST- 2024/03/21 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y [pii]
AID - 979 [pii]
AID - 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Harm Reduct J. 2024 Mar 21;21(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y.