Who are we?
KnowYourStuffNZ is a peer-led drug checking and harm reduction service that
has been operating since 2015. We address the lack of factual, proven information available to drug users about the substances they intend to take by providing drug checking and drug-related information at festivals, events, and clinics.
Why come see us?
When you get a drug from the pharmacy, you can be assured that it actually is what you think it is. It’ll also come with a health and safety sheet informing you on safe dosage, potential risks, other drugs with dangerous interactions, etc. For drugs purchased on the black market, these key safety nets are not present. That’s where we come in.
So how does it work?
Drug checking is carried out primarily using a machine called an infrared spectrometer. Essentially, we shoot your sample with a laser and measure the resulting response. We compare the response from your sample against a database containing tens of thousands of chemicals, allowing the accurate detection of drugs, adulterants, and mixtures. We also use colour-changing reagent tests for things like LSD, and can detect synthetic opioids with strip tests (similar to tests for pregnancy or COVID, but for fentanyl). We only take a tiny amount to do the check, about ~10 mg, or roughly a tenth of a typical dose of MDMA.
We offer a comprehensive harm-reduction service.
This means that we sit down with you and have a kōrero about your drugs and how to minimise risk. This covers things like recommended dose, route of administration (i.e., swallowing, snorting, etc.), risky interactions with other substances, and any other important info that we think you should be aware of. Our goal is to inform you with peer-reviewed information to empower you to make the best choices.
Our clinics are completely free, legal, and confidential.
We understand that drug use is still stigmatised and, for the most part, criminalised, but you’ll find no stigma or judgment from us. Plus, our service operates under the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Act of 2021, meaning that police cannot use knowledge of your usage of our service as evidence.
Some stats.
Over the past few years, ~10% of the samples we’ve tested have not been the
substance they were presumed to be. That means that 1 in 10 people consuming drugs could be taking something completely different to what they’re thinking. That’s a lot. This other substance could be more potent, risky, or poorly understood. This is why drug checking is so important.
Ōtepoti uses drugs.
Hyde Street Party and other big events are all soon approaching. We know that some of you guys will be consuming drugs on these days. Why not come see us? Check it before you neck it. There's no harm in finding out what you are actually taking.
Want to know more?
Find out first when we host our clinics by following our social media pages; we’re on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. For excellent info on drugs, harm- reduction, and a full calendar of drug-checking services, visit TheLevel.Org.NZ . Check out High Alert to be alerted anytime we detect a red flag substance circulating in the community. You can also find the lovely folks at DISC/DIVO in South Dunedin, offering drug-checking several days a week.
