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The exterior of Insite. A sign on the door reading welcome to insite is visible

Drug Checking at Insite

Insite provides both FTIR spectrometer services and fentanyl test strips. An FTIR spectrometer is a device that is able to provide you with more detailed drug-checking information than a fentanyl test strip.

How to access

  • Walk-in

    Walk in during regular hours and speak with a staff member to access drug-checking services.

Hours of operation

Currently open
  • Monday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Thursday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Friday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Saturday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • Sunday:   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

The FTIR technician is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Fentanyl test strips are available during regular business hours.

Insite

Insite is North America’s first legal supervised consumption site. It opened in 2003 and is located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The facility operates under a Health Canada exemption from prosecution under federal drug laws. Insite operates on a harm-reduction model, which means it strives to decrease the adverse health, social and economic consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence from drug use.

Drug Checking

Drug checking is a harm reduction service that allows people to determine what is in their substances and potentially take action to reduce the risk of any associated harms.