Occupational and Environmental Illicit Drug Monitoring

The Occupational and Environmental Illicit Drug Monitoring project is a research initiative led by the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Population & Public Health and funded by WorkSafeBC. This two-fold initiative aims to understand and characterize the risks associated with second-hand exposure to illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, in the workplace. With rapid shifts in drug consumption methods, workers in sectors such as healthcare, housing, social work, and emergency services may be at risk of exposure via various routes, however research in this area remains limited.

1. Characterizing Short-term Exposure to Fentanyl when Indoor Smoking Occurs: This first study investigates the potential for second-hand exposure to illicit drugs, especially fentanyl, released into the air during and after smoking events in indoor settings such as shelters, supervised consumption sites, and overdose prevention facilities.
2. Analytical Sampling Method Development: Surface-Wipe Sampling for Fentanyl and Other Illicit Drugs: Exposure may also occur through contact with contaminated surfaces. This study aims to develop and validate a standardized surface-wipe sampling method to detect and quantify fentanyl and other illicit drug residues in occupational environments.

Together, these studies aim to inform evidence-based workplace safety practices, help counter misinformation, and support efforts to protect at-risk workers.