Ash Cooper
New Device Instantly Detects Harmful Street Drugs
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.
· 5 min read
