Contaminated drugs: reducing harm

Drugs can be contaminated with other, more dangerous substances. Find out how to reduce your risk of harm.

Drugs are changing

Any drug can be contaminated with more dangerous drugs. This includes heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine, ketamine, and THC vapes.

Contaminated drugs often look like a usual batch, but because they contain more dangerous substances, they can affect you differently. This increases the risk of harm, overdose and death.

Find out what’s in your drugs

To find out more about drug testing services, please speak to a local drug and alcohol service, or use our free, online webchat.

Interested in drug self-test kits?

Some of our services can provide you with special self-test kits you can use to see if drugs have been contaminated with other substances. Find out how to use them.

Steps to help you reduce harm

It is best not to use drugs if you’re on your own or in a position where nobody could help you if you overdose.

A buddy system - where one person takes their hit and waits until the peak effects have worn off before the other person uses - makes it more likely that someone can help in an emergency.

The contents and strength of your drugs can vary between batches, so even if you use drugs regularly:

start with a small amount
wait to see how it affects you
space out your doses

If you think someone has overdosed ...

Put them in the recovery position (or on their side) and get help fast by calling 999, telling emergency services what you know. This could save their life.

Signs of an overdose will depend on what’s been taken, but may include:

Not being able to wake someone up
Difficulty breathing
Lips or fingertips with a blue (on lighter skin) or grey (if darker skin) tinge
Finding it difficult to walk or talk
Confusion
Drug paraphernalia in the room

If you have naloxone, administer it

Naloxone reverses the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, methadone and fentanyl. If someone hasn’t overdosed on opioids, naloxone won’t harm them - but if they have, it could save their life.

You can get a naloxone kit and training on how to use it from your local WithYou service.

More information about naloxone, including how to use it

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Looking for support?

If you’re concerned about your drug use, or if you’re worried about someone you know, we’re WithYou. We provide free, confidential and non-judgemental support and advice. Please don’t hesitate to reach out:

Find a local service