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. 2024 Aug 16;21(1):149.
doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-01074-y.

Contamination of a drug consumption room with drugs and potential risks for social health care workers

Flore Cuffaro  1 , Georges Dahm  1 , Claude Marson  1 , Patrick Berlemont  1 , Michel Yegles  1 , Claudia Allar  2 , Lionel Fauchet  2 , Matteo Creta  1 , Serge Schneider  1
Affiliations

Contamination of a drug consumption room with drugs and potential risks for social health care workers

Flore Cuffaro et al. Harm Reduct J. .

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that contamination of surfaces by illicit drugs frequently occurs in forensic laboratories when manipulating seized samples as well as in pharmacies and hospitals when preparing medicinal drugs. In this project, we extended these studies to a Drug Consumption Room to investigate drug levels and possible exposure of the staff members.

Methods: We investigated pre and post cleaning contamination by heroin and cocaine and their degradation products 6-monoacetylmorphine and benzoylecgonine on different surfaces (tables, counters, computers and door handles) and in the ambient air. We also collected urine and hair samples from staff members to check for potential short and long term contaminations.

Results: Medium to heavy contamination has been detected on most surfaces and door handles; as expected, air contamination was particularly high in the smoking room. Drug levels were < LOD to very low in the urine and the hair samples of staff members tested.

Conclusion: The cleaning efficiency of the surfaces, carried out by staff and drug users after drug consumption, was often not satisfactory. The very low drug levels in hair indicate that acute health risks for staff members are low.

Keywords: Cocaine; Drug consumption room; Drugs of abuse; Heroin; Occupational health; Surface contamination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plan of the ground and first floor of the Abrigado drug consumption room. Surface samples were collected on spots 1 to 13; air samples were collected on spots A-D
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean contamination levels (ng/cm2) of door handles in the morning after cleaning and in the evening before cleaning
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean contamination levels (ng/cm2) of counters in the morning after cleaning and in the evening
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Contamination of tables (ng/cm2) after cleaning and after drug use
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Estimation of the cleaning efficiency (ratio of mean evening/ mean morning contamination levels) for tables, door handles and counters at the DCR
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Mean drug concentrations (ng/m3) in the air in different locations of the DCR. ND = not detected
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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