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University of Victoria drug checking services

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2026-09-14 17:17 UTC → 2026-09-14 18:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The University of Victoria has implemented a pop-up drug checking service to support students during the return to campus. Hosted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, the initiative provides free, legal, and confidential substance testing using a spectrometer to identify ingredients in unregulated substances such as powders, pills, and crystal meth. The service aims to mitigate risks associated with the toxic drug supply, particularly for the 19 to 29 age demographic, which has accounted for 15 per cent of all drug deaths since the public health emergency began in 2016. This harm-reduction effort follows the January 2024 death of 18-year-old student Sidney McIntyre-Starko, who died after consuming a substance believed to be cocaine that was later found to contain fentanyl. While the university pledged to improve campus safety and emergency response following an independent review, the University of Victoria Students' Society and other advocates continue to campaign for a permanent drug-checking site on campus. Lauren Airth, a postdoctoral fellow with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), noted that the goal of the service is to provide a ‘fingerprint of the drug’ so individuals are better prepared for the risks of the substances they consume.

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