Drug checking is a harm reduction service that helps people make informed decisions about unregulated substances before they use and provides public health with timely information about the drug supply.
Drug checking results give information about unexpected additives in the sample provided, as well as the composition and concentration of the substances tested.
If you are using substances, find ways to stay safer by visiting our Harm Reduction for Substance Use page.
Steps:
- Call your nearest location below to confirm hours of operation and testing.
- Bring a sample of your unregulated substance to a designate location for free and confidential testing.
- Give a very small amount to the technician (about the size of a grain of rice).
- Wait for analysis (time to analyze varies by location and method of testing).
- Get your results in person, over the phone or online (depending on service and location).
Drug checking locations
- Campbell River
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- 1330 Dogwood Street, Unit #5
- 250-895-1825
- Drop off drug samples in-person when open. Testing complete when a technician is available
- Results can be accessed online, by text or a printed copy
- Services offered by Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (local OPS)
- Comox Valley
-
- 355 6th Street, Courtenay
- 250-338-7400
- Drop off drug samples in-person when open. Testing complete when a technician is available
- Results can be accessed online, by text or a printed copy
- Services offered by AVI Health and Community Services
- Cowichan Valley/Duncan
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- Nanaimo
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- 250 Albert Street
- 250-244-4042 (ext. 402)
- Drop off drug samples in-person when open. Testing complete when a technician is available
- Results provided immediately and can also be sent by email or text
- Services offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (local OPS)
- Port Alberni
-
- 3699 3rd Avenue (Off Bute Street)
- 250-723-6511 (ext. 112)
- Drop off drug samples in-person when open. Testing complete when a technician is available
- Results can be accessed online, by text or a printed copy
- Services offered by the Port Alberni Shelter Society (local OPS)
- Port Hardy
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- Victoria
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- Mail-in: Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project
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- Visit Substance
- Click “send a sample” in the upper right corner of the page
- Follow instructions to anonymously submit drug samples and retrieve results
- Mail-in: Get Your Drugs Tested
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- Take away: Fentanyl Test Strips
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Additional Resources
BC Centre for Substance Use Drug Checking Project
