Prairie Harm Reduction expands drug testing abilities with spectrometer | 24CA News
A extra in-depth type of testing illicit medication in Saskatoon is being utilized by Prairie Harm Reduction.
Executive director Kayla DeMong mentioned they began utilizing a spectrometer to check medication at the start of this week, noting that the machine will decide up extra than simply fentanyl.
“This machine is able to tell us everything that is in a substance, not just fentanyl and benzodiazepine, and will allow us to do better education and actually track better data around toxic drug supply in our community,” DeMong mentioned.
She mentioned the earlier methodology solely picked up whether or not fentanyl was current, including that about 75-80 per cent of meth examined on the secure consumption website as of late got here again optimistic.
“The most common substance used within our safe consumption site is crystal meth.”
DeMong mentioned the secure consumption website in Regina acquired a spectrometer as effectively.
She famous they’re seeing a rise in fentanyl in medication, and other people knowingly utilizing fentanyl.
“Our overdose data continues to rise and we’re definitely seeing more and more concern within the safe consumption site for the substances that people are using, and so having the spectrometer allows us to do a little bit more education, a little bit better data tracking on what has been seen within the province, and what is coming through as far as trafficking.”
She mentioned they need to get to the purpose the place they will put out public notices, and work with legislation enforcement to trace what’s coming via.
DeMong pointed on the market was a fairly important leap in testing strips coming again optimistic with fentanyl final fall.
She famous that individuals ought to get their medication examined once they can, including that it’s a reasonably straightforward course of, and the specter of fentanyl and benzodiazepine being laced in them is rising.
DeMong additionally careworn that naloxone kits are very important as effectively, including that she’d prefer to see the coaching and utilization of them develop in the neighborhood.
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