Table 3 Decisions to utilise CWE across groups of participants (CCM alone versus CCM and heroin)
Participants using CCM | Participants using CCM and heroin | All participants |
|---|---|---|
CWE was used to eliminate non-opioid analgesics (paracetamol and ibuprofen) to reduce the risk of paracetamol overdose. | ||
The many steps involved (including sourcing OTC CCM from multiple pharmacies) made CWE less attractive. | ||
Cravings outweighed concerns about the ineffectiveness of CWE and triggered utilisation. | ||
Online information influenced use of CWE (facilitated tampering of psychoactive medicines but also reduced the risk of harm associated with paracetamol overdose). | ||
Concerns of injecting tablet fillers in solutions containing crushed tablets facilitated use of CWE. | ||
When stronger codeine (prescription-only CCM) were not accessible, participants treated OTC codeine-containing tablets with CWE. | ||
Reduced supply of heroin would lead participants to source other types of opioids including utilisation of CWE. |