Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39232778›Full record

ArticleTrials2024

Evaluating fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction strategy in rural and urban counties: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Ashley Short Mejia, Gary A Smith, Soledad A Fernandez, Bridget Freisthler, Christine Grella, Nichole L Michaels

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05463341 (Evaluating an Intervention to Prevent Overdoses in Rural and Urban Counties), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05463341 naactive not recruitingnot on this map

Evaluating an Intervention to Prevent Overdoses in Rural and Urban Counties

TypeinterventionalSponsorNationwide Children's HospitalRan2022 to 2026Enrolled2,400ConditionsOpiate Overdose, Fentanyl Overdose, Harm ReductionArmsFentanyl Test Strips
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Interpol review of forensic drug chemistry, 2022-2025.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ashley Short MejiaCenter for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
Gary A SmithCenter for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
Soledad A FernandezCenter for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
Bridget FreisthlerCenter for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
Christine GrellaDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90025, USA.
Nichole L MichaelsCenter for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA. Nichole.Michaels@NationwideChildrens.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2618-6440

Funding

Evaluating the impact of fentanyl test strip use among rural and urban populationsR01DA052580 · NIDA · RESEARCH INST NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSP · PI MICHAELS, NICHOLE L, SMITH, GARY A. · 2021 to 2025
$3.4M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA052580
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOpioid-related fatalities are a leading cause of death in Ohio and nationally, with an increasing number of overdoses attributable to fentanyl. Rapid fentanyl test strips can identify fentanyl and some fentanyl analogs in urine samples and are increasingly being used to check illicit drugs for fentanyl before they are used. Fentanyl test strips are a promising harm reduction strategy; however, little is known about the real-world acceptability and impact of fentanyl test strip use. This study investigates fentanyl test strip distribution and education as a harm reduction strategy to prevent overdoses among people who use drugs.

methodsThe research team will recruit 2400 individuals ≥ 18 years with self-reported use of illicit drugs or drugs purchased on the street within the past 6 months. Recruitment will occur at opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs in 16 urban and 12 rural Ohio counties. Participating sites will be randomized at the county level to the intervention or non-intervention study arm. A brief fentanyl test strip educational intervention and fentanyl test strips will be provided to participants recruited from sites in the intervention arm. These participants will be eligible to receive additional fentanyl test strips for 2 years post-enrollment. Participants recruited from sites in the non-intervention arm will not receive fentanyl test strip education or fentanyl test strips. All participants will be followed for 2 years post-enrollment using biweekly, quarterly, and 6-month surveys. Primary outcomes include (1) identification of perceived barriers and facilitating factors associated with incorporating fentanyl test strip education and distribution into opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs; (2) differences in knowledge and self-efficacy regarding how to test drugs for fentanyl and strategies for reducing overdose risk between the intervention and non-intervention groups; and (3) differences in non-fatal and fatal overdose rates between the intervention and non-intervention groups. DISCUSSION: Findings from this cluster randomized controlled trial will contribute valuable information about the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of integrating fentanyl test strip drug checking in rural and urban communities in Ohio and help guide future overdose prevention interventions.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05463341. Registered on July 19, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05463341.

Indexed as

FentanylHarm ReductionRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicReagent StripsAnalgesics, OpioidDrug OverdoseHumansIllicit DrugsMulticenter Studies as TopicNaloxoneNarcotic AntagonistsOhioOpiate OverdoseOpioid-Related DisordersSubstance Abuse DetectionUrban Health ServicesAnalgesics, OpioidFentanylIllicit DrugsNaloxoneNarcotic AntagonistsReagent StripsFentanylFentanyl test stripsHarm reductionOverdoseRandomized controlled trialStudy protocolSubstance use

Identifiers

PMID39232778
PMCPMC11373481

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.