A year-round drug-testing programme has been introduced at London club Drumsheds and Manchester’s The Warehouse Project.
Harm-reduction charity The Loop will test any confiscated or handed-in substances onsite at the two venues, allowing them to issue any immediate warnings around potentially harmful substances, especially those that are unusually strong, to both clubbers and staff if required.
The test will be carried out “back-of-house” away from public view at each venue via mobile laboratories, with both now possible due to new Home Office licensing.
The Loop’s CEO Katy Porter said: “With our drug testing being completed at festivals, a seasonal industry, we have been concerned that this does not go far enough in maintaining regular drug intelligence across the UK, and importantly throughout the year. The introduction of our year-round onsite testing will provide intelligence for real-time risk management and harm-reduction information.”
Find out more about the new testing programme here.