HRC Drug Checking & Safer Use Education

Question 1

What is drug checking and why is it a harm reduction strategy?

Accepted Answer

Testing drug samples to identify contents and contaminants, enabling informed decision-making

Answer

Drug checking services test substances for composition and contaminants (especially fentanyl), giving people who use drugs information to make safer decisions and avoid accidental overdose.

Question 2

What are fentanyl test strips and how are they used?

Accepted Answer

Immunoassay strips that detect the presence of fentanyl and analogs in drug samples

Answer

Fentanyl test strips are inexpensive immunoassay tools that detect fentanyl and many of its analogs in drug samples by dissolving a small amount of the substance in water and testing the solution.

Question 3

What is 'safer use' education in harm reduction?

Accepted Answer

Teaching practices that reduce the risk of overdose, infection, and other harms for people who continue to use drugs

Answer

Safer use education provides evidence-based information about reducing risks (using with others, starting with small amounts, not mixing substances, recognizing overdose signs) for people who choose to use drugs.

Question 4

What is the importance of 'start low, go slow' in harm reduction messaging?

Accepted Answer

Starting with a small amount to test potency before using more reduces overdose risk from unknown-strength substances

Answer

Because drug potency varies unpredictably (especially with illicit fentanyl contamination), starting with a small test dose and waiting to gauge effects significantly reduces the risk of accidental overdose.

Question 5

Why is mixing substances (polysubstance use) particularly dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Combining depressants like opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines multiplies the risk of respiratory depression and death

Answer

Combining central nervous system depressants has synergistic effects on respiratory depression, meaning the combined risk of fatal overdose is far greater than the risk from either substance alone.

HRC - Harm Reduction Professional Certification Practice Test

HRC - Harm Reduction Professional Certification Practice Test

HRC Drug Checking & Safer Use Education