In the shadows of our community, a silent crisis unfolds daily. People struggling with addiction face a deadly gamble every time they use substances, never knowing if what they’ve purchased will cause a high or cause harm. This situation amplifies the need for accessible drug-testing services. However, current drug-testing results take two to four weeks to arrive since samples are sent to Toronto for analysis. By then, the street drug supply may have completely changed, making those results practically useless for preventing death or harm to people in our community.
To address this problem, ethnobotanist Cory Harris and biochemist Adam Shuhendler, with behind-the-scenes help from lab manager and senior analyst Rui Liu, initiated RADAR (Rapid Access Drug Analysis and Reporting). This rapid drug-testing service aims to transform how we protect our most vulnerable community members.
A lifeline in real time
“Unlike the current system, RADAR provides rapid-turnaround drug-checking, giving almost real-time insights into the content of the immediate drug supply and how it can be safely consumed,” explains Shuhendler.
Safe injection site staff and people who use drugs can send samples for timely analysis. Within minutes, the service provides detailed information about what substances are present, along with guidance on safer consumption practices. The sites also receive monthly reports featuring details about the makeup of active ingredients and compounds present in each category. “For the first time, our community can access actionable information quickly, reducing the risk of overdose,” explains Harris.
More than just testing
Thepotential impact goes beyond individual users. The information RADAR provides helps safe injection site staff deliver more effective responses, allowing them to adjust their emergency protocols based on what’s currently circulating on the streets. Policies can also be informed by current data. And the broader community benefits from reduced emergency incidents.
What makes RADAR particularly remarkable is its potential to spark a movement across Canada. As Harris and Shuhendler note, no other university in Ontario or Eastern Canada offers such a service. They hope their initiative could become the blueprint for institutions nationwide, creating a network of rapid-response drug-checking services that collectively protect thousands of at-risk Canadians.
Harris notes that “most chemistry professors have the equipment that we’re using,” suggesting this model could be replicated across the country.
A community investment
For Harris and Shuhendler, RADAR represents the chance to directly impact people in their own community.The opioid crisis continues to claim lives daily as unpredictable drug supplies make each use potentially fatal. With RADAR, they hope to prevent harm and prove that universities can be active partners in addressing urgent social issues.
Despite funding and policy challenges, Harris and Shuhendler are determined to invest and make a difference in their community. Their work demonstrates that when academic expertise meets community need, life-saving solutions can emerge. We just need dedicated people who are willing to step forward and implement them.
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