Find out what’s in your drugs.
Drug checking is a harm reduction service. It helps community members check their drugs for fentanyl and other contaminants, and take action to reduce overdose risk and other harms.
There are two different ways to check drugs in our region – fentanyl test strips and fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers.
All drug checking services are free and confidential.
Fourier-transform infrared spectrometers
Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers can identify up to six substances in a drug sample.
Examples include heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, fentanyl, benzodiazepines and various cutting agents.
FTIR spectrometers work by shining infrared light at a sample and measuring how that light is absorbed. Drugs and cutting agents have unique absorption patterns that are identifiable by a trained technician.
The test takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
A 5mg sample (about the size of a match head) is needed.