A team at the University of Bath has unveiled a breakthrough portable device capable of instantly detecting dangerous street drugs at trace concentrations. Currently undergoing trials with drug-checking services in the UK, Norway and New Zealand, the handheld spectrometer can identify benzodiazepines and synthetic opioids—substances often implicated in fatal overdoses—that elude conventional mobile detection technologies. Its rapid, on-the-spot analysis not only reveals the exact composition of illicit samples but also quantifies the concentration of each ingredient, empowering users and support services with critical harm-reduction data.
Revolutionizing Community Harm Reduction
Developed by Biochemist Professor Chris Pudney and colleagues in Bath’s Department of Life Sciences, the device operates much like an ultraviolet spectrometer yet simplifies both interpretation and handling. “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,” Professor Pudney explained. By making precise drug-checking accessible to non-experts, the technology aims to transform community-based harm reduction at nightclubs, festivals and treatment centres alike.
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Testing Times
Accurate detection of low-dose contaminants poses a greater challenge than identifying bulk, high-purity substances. Traditional laboratory equipment demands specialist operators and can entail weeks-long turnaround times—unacceptable delays when every hour counts. In contrast, Professor Pudney’s prototype requires only the push of a button and can discern compounds at minute concentrations. This real-time potency assessment highlights the presence of undeclared, potentially lethal additives such as nitazenes and fentanyl, enabling health workers and users to make informed decisions before consumption.
Addressing the Adulteration Crisis
Illicit drug markets are increasingly plagued by covert adulteration. Benzodiazepine-laced tablets sold for their calming effects may conceal synthetic opioids, turning a familiar sedative into a high-risk “Russian roulette” of potency. “Now, more than ever, there are serious health risks associated with taking all drugs,” Professor Pudney warned. “People may think they have bought something relatively unharmful—perhaps a substance they know well—but it may be contaminated with a far more dangerous and addictive compound that could endanger their lives.” Instant, accurate screening is thus essential to mitigate these hidden threats.
Local and International Trials
Devon & Cornwall Police, UK
Since June 2024, Devon & Cornwall Police have deployed the device to fast-track analyses of suspicious substances linked to near-fatal and fatal overdoses. “A prime example was testing oxycodone tablets after a death in 2024,” said Nick Burnett, the force’s drug expert witness. “We discovered nitazene contamination and issued a public warning within 36 hours—far quicker than the months-long forensic backlog.” The partnership has strengthened information-sharing between law enforcement and local treatment providers, enabling more timely alerts to vulnerable communities.
The Loop Drug Checking Service, UK
In the UK, only community services holding a Home Office licence can legally possess controlled substances for testing. Bristol-based The Loop has been the sole licence holder incorporating Pudney’s device alongside existing analytical tools. “We share the concerns regarding the changing drug market,” said Katy Porter, CEO of The Loop. “Working together with the University of Bath, we’re exploring how this technology can make drug checking more accessible and prevent harm across diverse user groups.”
Needle Exchange Programme & KnowYourStuffNZ, New Zealand
New Zealand’s legally sanctioned drug-checking environment allowed a two-week field trial involving hundreds of samples. The spectrometer complemented the existing fleet of lab-grade instruments used by the Needle Exchange Programme, the New Zealand Drug Foundation and KnowYourStuffNZ. “Our current portable spectrometers are the best available, but science moves on,” observed Dr Jez Weston, deputy manager at KnowYourStuffNZ. “Bath’s new technology offers faster, more detailed analysis that could significantly enhance front-line services.”
Association for Safer Drug Policies, Norway
In Norway, the ASDP has traditionally relied on infrared spectrometry to screen for common substances—but struggled to detect low-dose opioids and benzodiazepines. “These potent compounds occur in concentrations too low for established devices,” explained Dagfinn Hessen Paust, ASDP’s chief scientific officer. “Trialling the Bath spectrometer fills a critical gap and offers real promise for harm-prevention efforts across the Nordics.”
Under the Hood: Spectroscopy and Deep Learning
The Bath device employs a hybrid of fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopies. Fluorescence spectroscopy shines light on a sample and measures the emitted wavelengths, which vary uniquely by substance. Reflectance spectroscopy analyses the light bounced back, revealing molecular fingerprints. Crucially, a deep-learning algorithm trained on a library of nanoparticle spectroscopy (NPS) light-pattern datasets enables the instrument to match unknown samples against thousands of reference signatures with remarkable speed and accuracy.
“Each substance has its own light-emission profile,” Professor Pudney noted. “Our algorithm learns these patterns and can instantly identify and quantify multiple ingredients—even in complex mixtures.” The result is a precise concentration readout, not merely a binary yes/no detection, which is vital for assessing overdose risk.
Potential Impact and Future Directions
Drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales climbed from 4,359 in 2018 to 4,907 in 2023, reflecting both rising consumption and increasingly unpredictable drug purity. By equipping community services, outreach teams and users themselves with real-time data on drug contents and strength, the spectrometer offers a scalable strategy to curb overdose fatalities and hospitalisations.
Looking ahead, the prototype will undergo further ruggedisation for field conditions, battery-capacity enhancements and user-interface refinements. Regulatory approvals are being pursued in multiple jurisdictions, and discussions are underway with public-health agencies to integrate the device into national harm-reduction frameworks. Costs per unit are projected to fall with mass production, making widespread deployment feasible for non-profit and municipal programmes alike.
Research Team and Collaborators
The University of Bath’s interdisciplinary team includes Dr Alexander Power and Dr Tom Haines (Computer Science); Dr Tom Freeman (Psychology); Matthew Gardner, Dr Gyles Cozier, Peter Sunderland, Professor Stephen Husbands, Dr Ian Blagbrough and Dr Rachael Andrews (Life Sciences). External collaborators are Dr Jennifer Scott (University of Bristol), Anca Frinculescu (King’s College London), Trevor Shine (TICTAC Communications), Dr Gillian Taylor (Teesside University), Dr Caitlyn Norman, Dr Hervé Ménard and Professor Niamh N Daéid (University of Dundee), Dr Oliver Sutcliffe (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Dr Richard Bowman (University of Glasgow).
Towards a Safer Future
As illicit-drug markets evolve rapidly, so too must harm-reduction technologies. Bath’s portable spectrometer represents a significant advance in on-site drug analysis, bridging the gap between laboratory precision and community accessibility. If current trials translate into routine use, the device could become an indispensable tool for saving lives, reducing healthcare burdens and empowering individuals to make safer choices—one sample at a time.
