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Mental Health & Addictions >

Drug Checking

Addiction Service, Community Health

Description

Drug checking is a free, legal and confidential service that checks your drugs to see what's in them.

How do I access this service?

Anyone can access

Drug checking does not take any identifiable information. You don't sign anything, fill out any forms or give your name. Drug checking is legal in New Zealand. Police can't use your presence at a drug checking clinic as evidence in drug prosecutions, or as a reason to search you.

Walk in

Walk into any public drug checking clinic during open hours and the friendly staff will guide you through the process.

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Free

Programmes

Drug Checking Clinics

Drug checking is a free, legal and confidential service that tells you what's in your drugs so you can reduce risks. Drug checking staff and volunteers use a scientific machine called a spectrometer to do this, along with reagent tests – chemicals that change colour when they react with certain drugs. You’ll then get your results, and drug checkers will have a chat with you about ways to stay safer. They can also answer your questions about drugs.

Regions

All of New Zealand

Age Groups

Youth / Rangatahi, Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua

Referral Types

Self referral

Referral Process

Find a drug checking clinic here.

Description

Drug checking is a free, legal and confidential service that tells you what's in your drugs so you can reduce risks.

Drug checking staff and volunteers use a scientific machine called a spectrometer to do this, along with reagent tests – chemicals that change colour when they react with certain drugs.  

You’ll then get your results, and drug checkers will have a chat with you about ways to stay safer. They can also answer your questions about drugs.

Contact Details

This page was last updated at 9:42AM on May 19, 2025. This information is reviewed and edited by Drug Checking.