Australian University Residential College Students’ Awareness of and Attitudes Toward Drug Checking Services

BACKGROUND: While drug checking services can serve to minimize harms and support rapid monitoring of drug supplies to detect emerging drug trends and potential epidemics, uptake of these services is often limited. As awareness of and attitudes toward drug checking can impact uptake, the present study examined these variables and associated determinants among Australian university residential college students, a group with a distinct substance use culture. METHODS: = 0.73; 66% women) residing in one of six Queensland or three Victorian university colleges completed an online survey assessing drug checking service awareness and attitudes, demographics, drug and alcohol use, and engagement in other drug and alcohol harm reduction behaviors. RESULTS: 12% of participants reported past three-month use of a drug commonly tested at a drug checking services (i.e., amphetamines, MDMA, cocaine, and hallucinogens). Over two-thirds were aware of and had positive attitudes toward drug checking services; however, participants were unsure whether they would feel comfortable accessing drug checking services or whether their peers would use drug checking services. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to a growing body of research highlighting support for drug checking among young Australians, but underscores the need for further research to investigate and address barriers to uptake among this distinct cohort.