Posted on: February 7, 2024
People who use unregulated substances in the Mount Waddington Regional District area now have access to an enhanced drug-checking service for the first time thanks to a new Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometer.
How it works
During business hours people can attend the Port Hardy Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) office to have a sample of their substance checked and receive results within 20 minutes. After business hours, people can drop off samples via a secure mail slot and receive results the next business day via an anonymous online portal.
Samples will also be analyzed by a mass spectrometer on a weekly basis in Victoria to provide more comprehensive results, detecting whether fentanyl/and or fentanyl analogues or benzodiazepines are present in smaller amounts than can be detected by FTIR.
Now open
The new drug-checking service is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Port Hardy Mental Health and Substance Use is located at 7070 Shorncliffe Avenue.
Island Health is committed to delivering on the shared BC Government priority to build a seamless, integrated system of mental health and substance use care that can be accessed quickly and close to home. This work aligns with Island Health Priority #8 to promote population health and prevent harm and outcome goal #24 to increase access to safer supply and drug checking. We also aim to provide support respectfully in ways that promote dignity and compassion without judgement.
Learn more
Learn more about Island Health’s Harm Reduction for Substance Use.