The NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri reports that increased availability and use of drug checking services is helping to prevent harm in the community. In 2023, the Foundation’s drug checking service tested 2,602 samples at 98 clinics, a 51% increase from 2022. This does not include samples tested by other drug checking providers in the country.
The Foundation’s latest drug checking report reveals that nearly one in five drugs checked in 2023 were different from what users believed they were. Sarah Helm, the Foundation’s executive director, emphasizes that these services save lives by informing people about the contents of their drugs and providing safety information.
Helm explains that the most dangerous drug is the one a person is not expecting. She adds that the service is not just about informing people about their drugs, but also about having a confidential conversation about safety measures. For some, it’s their first honest discussion about their drug use.
Helm also mentions that drug checking providers have recently identified several dangerous substances sold as other drugs. These include powerful synthetic opioids called nitazenes, novel benzodiazepines, synthetic cathinones, and even non-psychoactive industrial chemicals like cyclohexanamine.
She warns that the global drug market is becoming increasingly volatile and encourages everyone to get their drugs checked. Helm believes that drug checking has a significant impact in preventing harm beyond those who use the service. She attributes the growth of the service to the hard work of the staff in building trust among a diverse range of drug users.
The key findings from the report can be found on the NZ Drug Foundation website.
