The Loop welcomes the next step for drug checking in Scotland, with Glasgow’s first service due to open on 5 October. We look forward to working with colleagues in Glasgow and Wales as the UK drug checking network continues to grow.
The Loop
@theloopuk.bsky.social
Award winning UK drug checking charity (#1200533) founded in 2012 TEDI member ‘Top 20 public health achievement of the C21st’ (as voted by RSPH) We promote harm reduction, health & wellbeing through drug checking, testing, research, training & information.
We joined BDP’s The Drop at Bristol Freshers Week, speaking with students about drug checking and harm reduction. Our Bristol service is back Sat 26 Sept, 12–8pm, last surrender 7pm. wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Bristol How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Founder Prof Fiona Measham joined BBC Breakfast this morning, calling for greater access to drug checking, post-mortem testing and naloxone in response to growing concerns around synthetic opioids in the UK drug market. Watch from 1:26:45: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... @fmeasham.bsky.social
Breakfast - 20/09/2026
The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team.
bbc.co.uk
Join The Loop on 23 Sept for training exploring rapidly evolving drug trends in depth, including current UK and international drug market data, effects, risks and harm reduction approaches. Book via Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/4c6xh7vu
On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Hackney. How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Love this! Thank you to the Rave Safe OAPs for printing & distributing @theloopuk.bsky.social materials @boomtownfair.bsky.social without us even knowing! ♾️💜♾️
The Loop@theloopuk.bsky.social · last mo.Great to see Rave Safe OAPs handing out Loop drug harm reduction infographic flyers at Boomtown 2026! Get the full res files on our website: wearetheloop.org/posters-info...
What’s changing in the UK drug market in 2026? Join The Loop online on 15 Sept for evidence on current trends, price & purity, published drug checking findings, novel synthetic opioids, high-strength MDMA and more. Book via Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/yvprn5ze @dsdp.ca @deppjournal.bsky.social
This Saturday, we are drug checking in #Camden How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
This Thursday, we are drug checking in #Ealing How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Important alert from Trimbos Institute: a two-colour Trump ecstasy pill containing a life-threatening amount of PMMA has been identified in the Netherlands. Please see the alert below for details and harm reduction information.
Our testing throughout 2026 continues to show minimal evidence of adulteration across the UK MDMA market, including pills and crystal. Lower adulteration does not mean lower risk: strength can still vary considerably. #GoSlowStayLow ⬇️ @lostvillage.bsky.social @harmreductionintl.bsky.social
We are at Lost Village! Our chemists are prioritising substances of concern from medics, helping provide timely information about emerging drug market trends and inform harm reduction responses during the festival. @lostvillage.bsky.social
On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Bristol How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Great to see Rave Safe OAPs handing out Loop drug harm reduction infographic flyers at Boomtown 2026! Get the full res files on our website: wearetheloop.org/posters-info...
The Loop will be at Boomtown 2026! Find us by Safer Spaces, Pepperpot Market for anonymous, non-judgemental harm reduction info. Thu 10:30: Prof @fmeasham.bsky.social at Reel News. Fri 11:30: Drug Testing & Safety at The Observatory. See our researchers? Say hi + take our Festival Survey ∞
On Saturday we are drug checking in #Hackney. How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Two new harm reduction infographics are now available from The Loop: MDMA Pill Update – 2026 and Crush. Dab. Wait. Download, share and print both from our Harm Reduction Information page: wearetheloop.org/posters-info... @boomtownfestival.bsky.social @harmreductionintl.bsky.social
New online training dates are now available from The Loop. Our sessions draw on our expertise in drug checking, harm reduction and emerging drug market trends, combining current evidence with practical knowledge. Explore the full programme: tinyurl.com/yvprn5ze
This Thursday, we are drug checking in #Ealing How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
The Loop is launching a new publicly accessible drug checking service in Ealing. From Thursday 6 August, the service will take place at RISE Southall on the first Thursday of every month, from 2pm to 9pm. The last time to surrender a substance is 8pm. @changegrowlive.bsky.social
This Saturday, we are drug checking in #Camden How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Happy 10th birthday to #drugchecking in the UK! Drug checking has grown from 1 festival field to 4 Home Office-licensed city drug checking services by @theloopuk.bsky.social & more opening this year. Thank you to all supporters, staff, stakeholders & especially The Loop’s amazing volunteers. ♾️💜♾️
The Loop@theloopuk.bsky.social · 2mo agoTen years ago today, The Loop introduced drug checking in the UK, at Secret Garden Party and Kendal Calling festivals.
Thank you to @whatareyou0n.bsky.social for a lovely piece reflecting on the 1st drug checking service in the UK which launched 10 years ago this week. Interviews with the people who were there including @steverolles.bsky.social, Henry Fisher & Freddie Fellowes. What a weekend! ♾️💜♾️
The Loop@theloopuk.bsky.social · 2mo agoTen years after The Loop delivered the UK’s first drug checking service, David Hillier looks back at the people, negotiations and years of work behind that moment and the journey that followed. Read Checkmate: tinyurl.com/yj383p9r @whatareyou0n.bsky.social @fmeasham.bsky.social
The link to @whatareyou0n.bsky.social’s July 2016 Vice article from the only journalist onsite with @theloopuk.bsky.social that weekend in Cambridgeshire:- www.vice.com/en/article/d...
We Went Drug Testing at Secret Garden Party to See What Weird Shit Ends Up in Your Drugs
The Loop, a drugs harm reduction organisation, pioneered a drug testing scheme at the festival that found – among other things – concrete and malaria pills in what was supposed to be ecstasy and ketam...
vice.com
Ten years after The Loop delivered the UK’s first drug checking service, David Hillier looks back at the people, negotiations and years of work behind that moment and the journey that followed. Read Checkmate: tinyurl.com/yj383p9r @whatareyou0n.bsky.social @fmeasham.bsky.social
On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Bristol How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Ten years ago today, The Loop introduced drug checking in the UK, at Secret Garden Party and Kendal Calling festivals.
On Saturday we are drug checking in #Hackney. How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
Tomorrow we are drug checking in #Camden How does it work? 1. Surrender a substance 2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use 3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids 4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice wearetheloop.org/drug-checking
