A visit to Nanaimo’s drug checking siteA visit to Nanaimo’s drug checking site
People First Radio
Patrick Cools, drug checking technician, and Destiny Herman, operations coordinator, both with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mid Island Branch, talk drug checking in Nanaimo. The service is offered at the CMHA’s overdose prevention
19:04•3 Jun 2023
Inside Nanaimo's Drug Checking Service: A Lifeline for Safety
Episode Overview
- Drug checking empowers users to make informed decisions for safer substance use
- Technicians utilize Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for substance analysis
- Service is available daily, offering quick results and harm reduction advice
- Different drug components can be tested, focusing on major components over 5%
- Importance of harm reduction techniques like naloxone, safe dosing, and using with a buddy
“Drug checking is really important. It works as a harm reduction tool for people who use substances. So it allows for people to have rough estimates of what are in their substances, and then they're able to make better decisions and informed decisions on what they're using and how much they want to use.”
What does it take to make safer choices when it comes to substance use? This episode of People First Radio takes you inside Nanaimo’s drug checking site, a crucial service offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mid Island Branch. Patrick Cools, a drug checking technician, and Destiny Herman, the operations coordinator, walk you through how this life-saving service works. Located at the overdose prevention site on 250 Albert St., this initiative is all about harm reduction and informed decision-making.
You'll hear about the advanced spectroscopy used for substance analysis, which provides quick and accurate results. Patrick and Destiny share their insights on how this service helps reduce harm and promotes safety among substance users. They also discuss the broader impact of drug checking on the community and what the future holds for such initiatives. If you're interested in understanding how harm reduction strategies can make a real difference, this episode is a must-listen.
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