Drug Checking

fentanyl test strips

Drug checking is a harm reduction service that allows people to determine what is in their substances and potentially take action to reduce the risk of any associated harms.

In collaboration with community partners, free, anonymous drug-checking services are available in Vancouver and other communities across Vancouver Coastal Health.

 

Where to access drug checking services

You can test your substances in multiple ways, either through on-site or take-home fentanyl test strips or by visiting a technician using an FTIR Spectrometer. You can access drug checking services at all overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites and through Get Your Drugs Tested in Vancouver or by mail.

What's in my drugs?

What's in my drugs? was developed by the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, PHS Community Services Society and Molson Overdose Prevention.

Recursos

FTIR Spectrometer and Technician

The FTIR spectrometer is a device that is able to provide you with more detailed drug checking information than a fentanyl test strip. FTIR Technicians provide drug checking services st:

Insite (139 East Hastings)

  • Monday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Thursday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Get Your Drugs Tested (GYDT) (880 East Hastings)

Toxic drug and health alerts

Send and receive toxic drug and health alerts by text.

Toxic drug and health alerts is a free, real-time text messaging service for anyone to receive toxic drug alerts or share information about toxic drugs in their community. This service is anonymous.

People can get other information by text message, like where to find naloxone or how to get drugs tested.

Toxic drug and health alerts are currently available in Interior, Fraser, Northern, Vancouver, and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.

To sign up, text the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).

See recent alerts on Towards the Heart.