For some time now, KnowYourStuff NZ and the NZ Drug Foundation have been checking drugs at music festivals and handing out potentially lifesaving advice.
But festivals are mainly a summer event, and we all know that drug-taking is not limited to summer or fesitvals. So in the interests of public safety, we’re extending a trial of our drug checking service to include the winter months in Wellington CBD.
Starting Thursday 18 July, we’ll be offering discreet, confidential and free drug checking once a month at the Drug Foundation office in Wellington. We hope that in time we can run the service all year round, from multiple locations across New Zealand.
Volunteers from KnowYourStuffNZ and the Drug Foundation use a combination of infrared technology and reagent testing, which allows them to identify over 95 percent of substances.
We’re proud of our success rate: A client survey by KnowYourStuffNZ showed that most people taking drugs understand the risks and will take them anyway, but three years of data consistently shows that when confronted with a test result that reveals their substance is not what they thought, many people will choose not to take it.
Drug checking is also a unique opportunity for volunteers to offer tailored harm reduction advice, and potentially get people thinking more actively about their drug use.
Participants are always reminded that the safest option is to not take a substance.
Check our website for some great news, results and other information. Or take a look at the Drug Foundation’s website for a section on keeping safe.
- The first service begins on Thursday 18 July. Come up to level 4, 265 Wakefield St, from 5.30 – 7.30pm.
KnowYourStuffNZ is a not-for-profit social enterprise funded by donations from the community. If you value our work, please donate.