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    • Home
    • About Us
      • What is Harm Reduction?
      • Meet the Team
      • Mission, Vision, & Values
      • Contact Us
    • Research Projects
      • Drug Checking
      • OD Detection Technologies
      • Sleep and MOUD
      • Completed Projects
    • Publications and Posters
      • Publications
      • Research Posters
      • Select Presentations
    • Resources
      • Infographics
      • Additional Websites
    • Español
      • Inicio
      • Reducción de Danos
      • Conoce al Equipo
      • Misión, Visión & Valores
      • Trabajos de Investigación
      • Publicaciones y Posteres
      • Recursos
Harm Reduction Innovation Lab

401-212-4730

  • Home
  • About Us
    • What is Harm Reduction?
    • Meet the Team
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • Contact Us
  • Research Projects
    • Drug Checking
    • OD Detection Technologies
    • Sleep and MOUD
    • Completed Projects
  • Publications and Posters
    • Publications
    • Research Posters
    • Select Presentations
  • Resources
    • Infographics
    • Additional Websites
  • Español
    • Inicio
    • Reducción de Danos
    • Conoce al Equipo
    • Misión, Visión & Valores
    • Trabajos de Investigación
    • Publicaciones y Posteres
    • Recursos

Drug Checking

Pilot Drug Checking Program Implementation and Evaluation Project

The US drug supply contains many potent synthetic opioids including illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogues (chemically similar compounds), which are involved in a growing number of overdoses each year.  Lack of supply regulation means people who use drugs are often unaware of exactly what is in their drug as cross substance contamination, inaccurate labeling, and impurities are common.  


People who use drugs are highly interested in using drug checking services in the US.  Currently, many are already using fentanyl test strips (FTS) to identify fentanyl before consuming drugs. While these tests are  often available and easy to use, they are not able to detect all analogues or other potentially dangerous chemicals, which can lead to a false sense of safety. In response, some harm reduction organizations, universities and health departments are beginning to offer additional drug checking methods including spectroscopy and spectrometry (see infographic below).  While these efforts are shown to be promising, there is still currently no system to collect and share drug checking experiences, results, and best practices. 


This study aims to address this gap by:

  • Developing and implementing an annual drug checking survey that will provide valuable information on drug checking trends; 
  • Exploring whether a point-of-care drug checking service is feasible in Rhode Island by conducting formative virtual focus groups with people who have  experience in working in these programs;
  • Developing a pilot drug checking service in Rhode Island to assess its impact by collecting and testing local drug samples and identifying their contents using fentanyl test strips (FTS),  Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and offsite laboratory testing. 


Study Status

Data Collection: Complete

Data Analysis and Publications: In progress


This project is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH under grant number P20GM125507. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more
North American Survey of Drug Checking Programs Operating in 2022
Cost analysis of a point-of-care drug checking program
Validation of Fentanyl Test Strips
Validation of Xylazine Test Strips and FT-IR Spectroscopy for Use in Community Based Settings
The Model Fentanyl Test Strip and Other Drug Checking Equipment Act
An Environmental Scan of Drug-Checking Services in Canada: Final Report
Test Strips Do Tell You If Xylazine Is Present, But Prone to False Positives

How to Use a Fentanyl Test Strip from Jefferson Health

Fentanyl Test Strip How-to Video Featuring Dr. Ju Park

NASEM Workshop FEATURING DR. JU PARK

Harm Reduction Services for People Who Use Drugs

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Harm Reduction Innovation Lab

1125 North Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904, United States

401-212-4730

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