The tragic story of an 18-year-old University of Victoria student who died from a drug overdose final yr has once more highlighted the necessity for entry to drug testing.
Sidney McIntyre-Starko was certainly one of three college students who took medicine of their residence in January 2024.
A report that was launched on Thursday into her demise and the occasions surrounding it said that the three college students knew the medicine got here from the unregulated drug provide in B.C. The drug was later decided to be cocaine laced with fentanyl.
It’s nonetheless unclear the place the trio obtained the medicine.
Nonetheless, it has once more raised questions on how medicine could be examined and the way these testing websites may very well be accessed.
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Dana Larsen, founder and director of Get Your Medicine Examined, mentioned his website, which opened in 2019 has develop into the world’s busiest drug evaluation centre.
He mentioned every little thing is paid for utilizing income from his hashish and mushroom dispensary, together with public donations.
“Anybody can are available in right here, seven days every week, with a tiny pattern of any drug or substance and we are able to analyze it,” Larsen mentioned.
“We may give them suggestions to allow them to make knowledgeable choices of what they need to put into their our bodies.”
Larsen’s retailer is on East Hastings Avenue in Vancouver and he mentioned they’ve analyzed greater than 8,000 samples since they opened in 2019.
The College of Victoria does have a drug testing site however it’s unclear how usually that useful resource is accessed.
The college additionally has data on its web site about overdose prevention and harm reduction.
Larsen mentioned drug testing companies ought to be accessible on each college campus and in each neighborhood.
“It’s an actual tragedy that it’s not.”
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