KNOW your 

Substance

〰️

Substance 〰️

Drug Checking AKA Pill testing

Knowing your substance is one of the most effective forms of harm reduction.

Drug checking allows a person to test their drugs to find out what’s actually in it. When getting your drugs checked at a mobile or fixed site service, it also provides the opportunity to chat with trusted health professionals and peer workers. Typically, these services are free (or low cost) and anonymous.

Drug checking does not guarantee that a substance is entirely safe.

Drug Checking in NSW

The NSW government is currently undergoing a trial drug checking program at selected music festivals.

The trial is funded and ran by NSW Health with the help of peer workers from NUAA. Whilst DanceWize NSW itself is not apart of the drug checking trial, we provide an important aspect of further peer support and solidify the harm reduction strategy by working together with the NUAA peer workers and NSW Health staff.

What happens at a drug checking service?

When you enter a drug checking service, you will be asked your name; you do not need to answer truthfully.

You will need to provide a small sample which will not be returned to you.

The chemists will take the smallest amount possible, but it may result in broken caps or crushed pills.

A peer worker will accompany you through the service, don’t be afraid to ask them questions or seek guidance.

Group of people wearing red vests standing under a tent with a sign that reads 'Drug Checking Service' hanging nearby.

What about Police operations?

NSW Police are NOT involved with the drug checking service and will not be permitted into the service during operation hours.

HOWEVER

Police will most likely still be running their usual festival operations which may include the use of sniffer dogs.

Lab technician using a spectrometer

Fixed Site

Fixed-site drug checking services are few and far-between in Australia. We hope to see more of these services pop-up.

Currently we have:

Brochures titled "Just Say Know" that provide information on various substances such as Cannabis, Alcohol, MDMA, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, LSD, and Magic Mushrooms, among others. Each brochure includes common names, chemical compounds, and harm reduction tips.

At home

Take home drug checking resources can be a great alternative to these mobile and fixed site services.

Take home drug checking kits like reagent tests allows you to quickly check for known psychoactive chemicals like MDMA, Ketamine, LSD and common, harmful adulterants.

These are often found through online retailers and some speciality stores.