Resources

Drug Checking Protocols

Basic drug checking protocols for the collecting, storing, and disposal of samples as well as the basics of operating a drug checking program.

Example Memorandum of Understanding

Generously shared by the Grand Rapids Red Project, this is an example of a written agreement between a drug checking service and local law enforcement. An MOU does not legalize drug checking, but it indicates that local law enforcement is aware of the drug checking service and may offer some level of protection to service providers.

Implementation Progress Tracker

Use this tool to track and organize your progress throughout the process of implementing a drug checking service.

Organizational Readiness Assessment

Use this readiness assessment tool as a quick check to see if you or your organization are prepared to start a drug checking program. This will help to identify what’s working well and what isn't before getting started. Doing a readiness assessment check is a crucial tool to ensuring that an organization is fully prepared to undertake the challenging of starting a drug checking program and can significantly increase the likelihood of success.

Drug Checking Program Materials List

A short list of supplemental materials and tools needed for drug checking.

Example Drug Checking Technician Job Description

An example job description that exemplifies some of the skills and qualifications needed by drug checking technicians.

Who Makes A Good Drug Checking Technician?

Read about the qualities and characteristics to look for when hiring a drug checking technician.

Drug Checking Program Sample Budget

An example of what a budget could look like for a community drug checking program.

Harm Reduction Hacks: Considerations for Hiring Peers

Harm Reduction Hacks is the product of a series of 38 qualitative conversations with harm reduction leaders representing every region of the US that took place in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. This data was then analyzed for themes, practical tips, and other information. That analysis, and the wisdom of people who have between them nearly 500 years of lived experience, are woven throughout the information, tips, and insights in Harm Reduction Hacks.

Harm Reduction Hacks: Why Hire People Who Use Drugs (and Other Peers)

Harm Reduction Hacks is the product of a series of 38 qualitative conversations with harm reduction leaders representing every region of the US that took place in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. This data was then analyzed for themes, practical tips, and other information. That analysis, and the wisdom of people who have between them nearly 500 years of lived experience, are woven throughout the information, tips, and insights in Harm Reduction Hacks.

Centering Sex Workers in Harm Reduction

A tool designed to assess core competencies when working with and serving people engaged in sex work.

Towards Trans-Inclusive and Trans-Centered Harm Reduction Services

Recommendations designed to create more affirming and welcoming spaces that support trans participants at syringe services programs (SSPs).

Harm Reduction Hacks: Upstream Advocacy

Harm Reduction Hacks is the product of a series of 38 qualitative conversations with harm reduction leaders representing every region of the US that took place in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. This data was then analyzed for themes, practical tips, and other information. That analysis, and the wisdom of people who have between them nearly 500 years of lived experience, are woven throughout the information, tips, and insights in Harm Reduction Hacks.

Legality of Drug Checking Equipment in the United States

An overview of the legal status of drug checking and drug checking equipment in the United States.

From Fentanyl Test Strips to Mass Spectrometry: A Case Study in Civilian Drug Checking

A webinar that highlights innovative drug-checking technologies used in response to the highly variable drug market.

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment

To identify how FTS and drug checking can be implemented for harm reduction purposes within health departments, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conducted a literature review and 11 key informant interviews with staff from organizations that have implemented or are in the process of implementing drug checking services.

Harm Reduction Hacks: Hacks for SSP Community Relations-External Community

Harm Reduction Hacks is the product of a series of 38 qualitative conversations with harm reduction leaders representing every region of the US that took place in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. This data was then analyzed for themes, practical tips, and other information. That analysis, and the wisdom of people who have between them nearly 500 years of lived experience, are woven throughout the information, tips, and insights in Harm Reduction Hacks.

It's Our Backyard Too: Building Community-Centered Support for Harm Reduction

NHRC’s Policy and Advocacy Community Engagement Toolkit

Harm Reduction Hacks: Hacks for SSP Fundraising

Harm Reduction Hacks is the product of a series of 38 qualitative conversations with harm reduction leaders representing every region of the US that took place in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. This data was then analyzed for themes, practical tips, and other information. That analysis, and the wisdom of people who have between them nearly 500 years of lived experience, are woven throughout the information, tips, and insights in Harm Reduction Hacks.

Navigating the Harm Reduction Funding Landscape

This guidance document was designed to assist a variety of harm reduction programs — ranging from small-scale grassroots organizations to larger harm reduction programs — with navigating the funding landscape and fulfilling the requirements laid out in grant proposals and their application process.

Opioid Settlements, Harm Reduction, and Leveraging Local Health Department Expertise

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) partnered with Community Education Group (CEG) on a 3-part webinar series on Opioid Settlements across the country and how LHDs and their community partners can, and are, leveraging funds to support evidence-based syndemic strategies to reduce harms associated with opioid use.

Pre-Implementation Tool For Drug Checking Programs

To help streamline the drug checking implementation process, the following is a list of pre-implementation steps that a program must have completed in advance of formal training and technician apprenticeship. There are additional (non-required) suggestions to jump-start the program while waiting for training. These steps will help to ensure that drug checking will be implemented in a way that meets the needs of the community, will speed the training process, and can help to build the technician’s knowledge base about drugs and the local drug supply.

Considerations for New Drug Checking Technologies

As drug checking continues to rapidly expand across North America and abroad, companies are eager to get into the federal and opioid settlement funds. In some cases, new technologies are emerging with the goal of improving sensitivity, turnaround time, and accessibility of services. In other cases, existing technologies are being repackaged to be harm reduction facing, without many improvements or appropriate field validation. Given that opioid-facing drug checking itself is a very new field, it can be challenging to navigate the various technologies that are available. This document is intended to assist you in analyzing new drug checking technologies.