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If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

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    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
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    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
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    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
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    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
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    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
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    Drinking and Your Health

    Alcohol is a substance that can be enjoyed in moderation. However, the more you drink, the more your risk of certain diseases can go up. Find out how many drinks it takes to put you at risk, and how high or low those risks can be.

    Learn more
  • Browse supports

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • COVID-19 Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    Two men standing and laughing by a brick wall

    Drinking and Your Health

    Alcohol is a substance that can be enjoyed in moderation. However, the more you drink, the more your risk of certain diseases can go up. Find out how many drinks it takes to put you at risk, and how high or low those risks can be.

    Learn more
  • Browse supports

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us

Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

Drug Checking

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  3. Harm Reduction
  4. Drug Checking

Substance use

  • Types of Substance Use
    • Alcohol
    • Opioids
    • Stimulants
  • Addiction
    • Addiction and Health
    • Treatment and Recovery
  • Harm Reduction
    • Overdose Prevention
    • Naloxone
    • Drug Checking

Drug checking provides life-saving information about the harmful and even deadly contaminants that drugs may contain, such as fentanyl.

Drug checking services are available at many supervised consumption and overdose prevention services across the province to test a range of substances, including opioids, stimulants, and other psychoactive drugs such as MDMA and benzodiazepines.

Each month, the BC Centre on Substance Use publishes reports summarizing drug checking results. You can use these reports to see types of drugs around B.C. and what drugs are contaminated.

  • Find drug checking services by health authority.
  • See drug alerts and tips on staying safe.
  • For the Vancouver Coastal area, get drug alerts or report substances through texting.

If you suspect an overdose, call 9-1-1 right away.

Resources

Showing 4 Resources

Drug Checking Listings (BCCSU)

The illicit drug supply in B.C. is extremely toxic. Use free drug checking services at supervised consumption and overdose prevention sites.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports

Drug Checking Listings (BCCSU)

Contact

Website

About

Anyone who uses any drug from the unregulated supply is at risk of an overdose. Without drug checking, there is no way to know for sure what is in a drug.

Description

Drug Checking services and test strips are currently offered in locations across B.C.

Find out more at BCCSU's website to see when and where drug checking services are offered.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

ANKORS Drug Checking

Fast, free, anonymous drug checking with
FTIR spectrometry and fentanyl test strips.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
In-person services
Information and tools
Interior Health
Person who uses drugs

ANKORS Drug Checking

Contact

1-800-421-2437
Email
Website
Cranbrook
Back Cranbrook

#209A – 16th Ave N
Cranbrook BC V1C 5S8
Canada

1-250-426-3383
Email
Website
Nelson
Back Nelson

101 Baker Street
Nelson BC V1L 4H1
Canada

1-250-505-5506
Email
Website

About

Fast, free, anonymous drug checking with FTIR spectrometry and fentanyl test strips.

Description

Ankors hosts drug checking in person, in their offices so clients can have a conversation about what exactly their substance is made of.

Ankors also offers take home fentanyl test strips, and lessons on how to use them, so you can test your drugs for fentanyl even when the offices are closed.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
In-person services
Information and tools
Interior Health
Person who uses drugs
Learn more
Learn More

Get Your Drugs Tested

Free and confidential drug checking in Vancouver, B.C.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
In-person services
Information and tools
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health

Get Your Drugs Tested

Contact

Vancouver
Back Vancouver

Harm Reduction & Education Centre
880 East Hastings
Vancouver BC V6A 1R6
Canada

1-778-819-0922
Email
Website
Sun: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Mon: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Tue: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Wed: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thu: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Fri: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
Sat: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm

About

Free and confidential drug checking in Vancouver, B.C.

Description

GET YOUR DRUGS TESTED is the world’s largest repository of street drug analysis results. They are a community service entirely funded and operated by the Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary and certified by Vancouver Coastal Health as an Overdose Prevention Site.

How the Testing Works

GET YOUR DRUGS TESTED has a special machine called an “FTIR Spectrometer” which can identify drug samples and what they are comprised of.

The test takes 10 minutes on average and does not destroy the sample. The machine shines an infrared laser onto the sample, then analyzes the reflected light spectrum to identify the substances in the sample.

They also have test strips available – these are more sensitive and can test for even trace amounts of fentanyl or benzodiazepines.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
In-person services
Information and tools
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Learn more
Learn More

RADAR Drug Alerts

A free text and web form system that alerts people who use drugs about contaminated drugs in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Information and tools
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports

RADAR Drug Alerts

Contact

Vancouver
Back Vancouver

Vancouver Coastal Health Corporate Office
11th floor - 601 West Broadway
Vancouver BC V5Z 4C2
Canada

1-866-884-0888
Send text
Website
Sun: Closed
Mon: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Tue: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Thu: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Fri: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Sat: Closed

About

People who use drugs can report contaminated drugs.

Description

People in Vancouver Coastal Health who use drugs can report overdoses that show unusual symptoms, what town and neighbourhood the substance was purchased in, types of substances, and physical description of the substances. Photos of the substances can be uploaded to the web form.

Information is relayed to Vancouver Coastal Health staff immediately. Staff warn people, health care staff and community organizations about contaminated drugs, which may help prevent overdoses.

Reports are anonymous. Visit the website to learn about reporting bad dope and getting drug contamination alerts by text.

 

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Information and tools
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

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Mental Health Support

310-6789