Wellington drug testing reveals the presence of antipsychotic drugs

Know Your Stuff and the Drug Foundation have stepped together to form an initiative that would allow for individuals to bring in the drugs they’re about to consume and submit them for analysis. The objective is to reduce drug-related harm. The bottom line: testing has revealed the presence of antipsychotic drugs among the people.

During the pilot, 37 substances were tested. For 29 of these, those who brought them in presumed them to be ecstasy or MDMA. Out of 37, only 4 were tested to be something different than their owners believed them to be. Interestingly, 3 of them turned out to be quetiapine, which is a substance used for treating schizophrenia, as well as depressive and bipolar disorders.

According to Wendy Allison, managing director at Know Your Stuff, these antipsychotic drugs could make someone feel unwell. The good news, however, is that it’s rather unlikely that major harm could follow as a result.

In related news, in the very same week, the government granted funding to a Victoria University criminologist team to find out whether drug testing at festivals helps contribute towards reducing drug-related harm. In New Zealand, this is the first study of its kind and $59,000 went towards making it possible.

Dr David Clark, the Health Minister, said there is no way to make illegal drug use completely safe. Such actions, by their very nature, carry a certain degree of risk. However, reducing harm whenever possible is something that can and should be done.