Grègory Pfau

Médecins du Monde | Paris (FR)

Lecture:
Developing a national network of drug checking services based on the existing mainstream harm reduction public services in France*

In 2000, Médecins du Monde (MdM) – Doctors of the World started one of the first drug-checking service in France, for drug users during free parties. Since then, MdM has progressively developed a model to ensure the scale-up of drug-checking services, based on a network with partners from the harm reduction public health system. First, MdM trained partner organizations to collect samples from drug users themselves and send to MdM drug checking laboratories. In a 2nd phase, MdM has been transferring its laboratories activities to partners who received thorough trainings. This network model results, today, in a fully competent autonomous drug checking service with 41 various organizations (5 ‘analyst’ partners, 36 ‘collector’ partners), in 8 regions in France. In 2017, 1.011 samples were collected and analyzed. This device makes it possible to get in touch with a wide audience, particularly recreational drug users. It also contributes to training teams on products and their interactions, monitor and anticipate market developments and new products, and participate to the upward and downward flow of the health watch. Nevertheless, some challenges remain: maintaining the cohesion of the network, its recognition and financing by public authorities, and its development in more territories.

*Authors: Gregory Pfau, Sevag Chenorhokian, Marie Debrus, Sandrine Simon