The Loop, a harm-reduction charity, is set to launch a monthly drop-in drug testing service accompanied by health advice in Bristol starting this Saturday.
Licensed by the Home Office, the service targets individuals with dependent, frequent, and problematic drug use, aiming to mitigate drug-related medical incidents, overdoses, and hospital admissions.
Professor Fiona Measham, founder of The Loop, emphasized the critical timing of the initiative amidst escalating risks of adulterated drugs in the illegal market.
 Following years of preparation, evaluation, and negotiation, the launch marks a significant milestone in harm reduction efforts, with plans to expand to other cities shortly.
The service, free of charge, will operate on the last weekend of each month. Its objectives include reducing the consumption of adulterated and contaminated drugs, minimizing the risk of poisoning and overdose, and guiding service users to support services.
Substances of concern will be submitted for laboratory analysis by professional chemists, with findings used to inform harm reduction strategies.
Funded by Bristol City Council and operated in collaboration with organizations like the Bristol Drugs Project and the universities of Liverpool and Bath, the service highlights a multi-agency approach to tackling drug-related harms.
While the initiative is welcomed by many, including Wendy Teasdill, who lost her daughter to drug use, the need for drug awareness and education remains pressing.
Teasdill advocates for informed conversations and hopes the service will prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
The launch follows concerns over the surge in deaths linked to super-strength street drugs, prompting calls for comprehensive harm reduction measures.
Bristol City Councillor Ellie King highlights the initiative’s potential to save lives and empower communities to make informed choices.
The Bristol Drugs Checking Service aligns with broader efforts to address drug misuse, enhance understanding of local drug markets, and collaborate with law enforcement and health services to disseminate harm reduction messages.
Responding to the initiative, a Home Office spokesperson stressed the absence of a safe way to consume illegal drugs while acknowledging the importance of providing support to vulnerable individuals and gathering intelligence to combat dangerous substances.
The launch of the service in Bristol precedes the approval of the UK’s first official consumption room for illegal drugs in Glasgow, signaling a growing recognition of innovative approaches to address the country’s drug-related challenges.
Source: liverpool.ac
