Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40176104›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2025

Use of reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips among electronic music festival attendees in Colorado: prevalence, barriers, and behavior in response to drug checking.

Cianna J Piercey, Thomas E Schlechter, Devin Henry, Mikayla Allen-Collins, Riley Ahern, Joseph Cameron, Bradley T Conner, Jeffrey G Snodgrass, Hollis C Karoly

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

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. Assessment of Test Strips for Detection of Fentanyl in Powders.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2026
    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

9 authors.

Cianna J PierceyDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA. Cianna.Piercey@colostate.edu.
Thomas E SchlechterDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Devin HenryDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Mikayla Allen-CollinsDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Riley AhernDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Joseph CameronDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Bradley T ConnerDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Jeffrey G SnodgrassDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Hollis C KarolyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, 80262, USA.

Funding

Exploring the Effects of Cannabinoids on Alcohol Consumption and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain AxisK23AA028238 · NIAAA · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI KAROLY, HOLLIS C · 2021 to 2025
$1.1M
NIAAA NIH HHS K23AA028238
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPolysubstance use is common at electronic dance music (EDM) events and hazards associated with polysubstance use may be exacerbated when people who use drugs are unaware of the contents of their drug sample. Reagent test kits (RTK) and fentanyl test strips (FTS) are two efficacious drug checking tools that people who use drugs might use to protect themselves from risks associated with contamination, adulteration, and misrepresentation of unregulated substances. In the current study, we aimed to (1) characterize the use of RTK and FTS among attendees of a 4-day music festival in Colorado and (2) qualitatively capture perceived barriers to using RTK and FTS within festival settings.

methodsWe surveyed 227 music festival attendees on their use of drug checking tools (i.e., RTK and FTS) and behavior in response to drug checking. We also collected qualitative data on perceived barriers of using RTK and FTS within a festival setting using survey-based open-ended text response questions.

resultsThe percentage of participants having ever used RTK 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 RTK and 59.4% for use of FTS. Additionally, 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. Perceived barriers to using RTK and FTS within a festival setting encompassed the following themes: (1) accessing testing materials (2) environmental or ecological barriers (3) legal concerns (4) social dynamics (5) lack of education/training and (6) limits of individual drug checking tools.

conclusionsRTK and FTS appear to empower festival attendees in the U.S. to make informed decisions related to their substance use. However, there is a critical need to reduce barriers associated with drug checking for this at-risk population.

Indexed as

FentanylMusicReagent Kits, DiagnosticReagent StripsSubstance Abuse DetectionAdolescentAdultColoradoFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultFentanylReagent Kits, DiagnosticReagent StripsDrug checkingElectronic dance musicFentanyl test stripsHarm reductionMusic festivalsPolysubstance useReagent test kits

Identifiers

PMID40176104
PMCPMC11963508

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.