Incorporating experiential reports provided by people who use drugs into drug-related early warning systems: benefits, risks principles and approaches

INTRODUCTION: Drug-related early warning systems (EWS) comprise interdisciplinary networks that interpret data to detect and mitigate drug-related harms. The cross-disciplinary literature on EWS highlights the need for EWS to integrate community, scientific, and technical knowledges. Internationally, certain drug-related EWS collect incidental reports of noteworthy drug events provided by people who use drugs (PWUD). This qualitative study explored the potential benefits, risks, principles and approaches associated with implementing systematic mechanisms for community drug reporting, to inform the development of a nation-wide reporting system in Australia. METHODS: Data were drawn from 20 semi-structured interviews with Australian EWS practitioners plus three advisory meetings engaging 14 staff from community-based and peer-led organisations representing PWUD. Discussions focused on the prospect of collecting, analysing and sharing community data to support drug-related EWS. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts and advisory meeting minutes. RESULTS: Benefits ascribed to collecting incidental drug reports from communities included the faster detection of concerns and providing context for analytically verified data. Concerns were raised about data privacy and criminalisation, difficulty verifying community reports and spreading misinformation. It was suggested that community reporting initiatives should be led by PWUD; prioritise community engagement; be open to reports of benefits and harms, be underpinned by robust moderation, with data used to inform diverse harm reduction communications. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic collection of and response to experiential reports provided by PWUD has potential to improve drug-related EWS. Such systems must be underpinned by strong governance, remain open to collecting reports of benefits plus harms and be led by communities.