Drug-testing machine a 'game changer' for users, advocates say

A machine that allows street drug users to check the composition of what they're about to use within 15 minutes has been a game changer for those using it at London's supervised consumption site. 

"It's been well received by participants because it doesn't destroy any of their sample, so they can come in, test it, and then consume it," said Megan Van Boheeman, the director of harm reduction at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, which runs London's Carepoint supervised consumption site on York Street. 

"The dip sticks that were offered before, they ruined your samples, so participants like that option. There's a lot of curiosity. It's really empowering for people who use substances to see what's in there." 

The machine, a black box about 30 cm by 30 cm, was designed by Western University students. Their startup is called SCATR Inc. The machine has a microscope that has a laser and spectrometer that uses light to check how light interacts with the components of what is being tested, said Francois Lagugné-Labarthet, a Western University chemistry professor. 

"The drugs are composed of many components, so knowing the contents can help them decide whether to use or not use or reduce the amount they're using," he said. 

The SCATR machine only needs a sample about the size of half a matchstick head to work, said Van Boheemen. The findings are uploaded to the cloud. 

Ten of the devices are being used in supervised consumption sites across Canada, so the research team can keep track of any samples that are dangerous. The more people that use the machine, the better the database becomes, Lagugné-Labarthet said. 

LISTEN | Francois Lagugné-Labarthet talks about drug testing on London Morning:

London Morning7:58London researcher using technology to provide drug-checking services

Researchers from Western University have been collaborating with a Canadian startup company to test a network of 10 connected drug-checking devices across the province. With more on this, chemistry professor at Western François Lagugne-Labarthet. spoke about this on London Morning.

People have decided to consume less if there's something they didn't expect in their drugs, Van Boheemen said. 

"With this technology, we can see the trends of what's in the drugs," she said. "It does surprise people, for example, to see that there's caffeine in their fentanyl." 

The technology has been funded by Health Canada. It's a pilot project that's been operating for 18 months, but researchers hope the funding for it is renewed.