Researchers at the University of Bath have created a portable and low-cost device that can instantly identify dangerous street drugs, even at very low concentrations. The device works similarly to an ultraviolet spectrometer, and can quickly reveal both the composition and potency of a given sample, enabling the detection of hard-to-spot substances such as benzodiazepines and synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, that contribute to fatal overdoses worldwide.
The device is currently being tested by drug-checking services in the UK, Norway, and New Zealand, and its technology was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Analytical Chemistry. It was invented by Dr. Chris Pudney’s, professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, and can be used by non-experts at the press of a button to detect drugs in extremely small amounts, revealing their potencies and hidden contaminants.
“Whatever we’re doing at the moment to prevent deaths from drug misuse isn’t working so we need a new kind of service that can be where it’s needed – cheaply, easily and anywhere,” said Professor Pudney in a press release. “Our device would support community harm reduction. Telling people not to take drugs doesn’t work, so different strategies are needed. By letting people know exactly what’s in a drug and how strong it is, we can empower them to make safer decisions about whether or not to take it, or to use it in a safer way.”
The Bath device uses a combination of fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy in order to examine how a substance emits and reflects light, which allows to identify drugs. A deep-learning algorithm, trained on a library of nanoparticle light patterns, enables it to accurately recognize different substances. “Our aim is for this device to support drug-checking services, as a means to decrease the harm caused by drugs across different groups. The landscape of drug use is changing rapidly and we hope this tool can fill some of the gaps that are emerging,” said Professor Pudney.
Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales have increased steadily over the recent years, from 4,359 in 2018 to 4,907 in 2023, covering both illicit and prescription drug misuse. Professor Pudney envisions the new device being used in areas where illicit drugs are commonly used, such as at clubs and festivals, as well as in services that provide support and treatment for individuals diagnosed with addiction disorders.
“Now, more than ever, there are serious health risks associated with taking all drugs. People may think they have bought something relatively unharmful – perhaps a substance they know well – but the drug they have may in fact be contaminated with a far more dangerous and more addictive substance that could endanger their lives,” he said. “This is why drug checking is so important and so needed. We need simple, instant detection that anyone in a drug and alcohol service can use to support their clients.”
