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 – fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers and fentanyl test strips.
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.
Locations offering this service
- SafePoint
- Purpose Society – Starship Health Contact Centre
- Sources - PeacePoint
- Foxglove - Supportive Housing Complex
Fentanyl test strips
Fentanyl test strips can detect fentanyl and some fentanyl analogues in a drug sample.
Individuals mix the sample (equal to a few grains of sand) with a small amount of water, place the test strip in the water and a positive or negative result is revealed in minutes.
For more information on drug checking with fentanyl test strips, please see our step-by-step guide: