KnowYourStuffNZ
@knowyourstuffnz.bsky.social
Drug checking and harm reduction service at events and in the community in Aotearoa since 2015.
World's first legal drug checking operation, doing the thing legally since 2021 😊
World's first legal drug checking operation, doing the thing legally since 2021 😊
Pinned
Drug checking to be permanent after law passes third reading
Drug-checking services have been given the all-clear to keep testing the safety of illicit substances at festivals and other locations over summer.
www.rnz.co.nz
Just getting a law changed and becoming a world-first. Y'know, the usual 😉
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Hi friends,
This week’s article is about drug checking services in Slovenia. Slovenia’s drug checking services, like Aotearoa’s, originally started as peer-lead reagent testing, but gained government support and now several drug checking operations are available around the country.
1/7
This week’s article is about drug checking services in Slovenia. Slovenia’s drug checking services, like Aotearoa’s, originally started as peer-lead reagent testing, but gained government support and now several drug checking operations are available around the country.
1/7
October 9, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Hi friends,
This week’s article is about drug checking services in Slovenia. Slovenia’s drug checking services, like Aotearoa’s, originally started as peer-lead reagent testing, but gained government support and now several drug checking operations are available around the country.
1/7
This week’s article is about drug checking services in Slovenia. Slovenia’s drug checking services, like Aotearoa’s, originally started as peer-lead reagent testing, but gained government support and now several drug checking operations are available around the country.
1/7
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday! 🥳 🥳 🥳
Last time we explored how the stigma surrounding synthetic drugs gave them a reputation for being more dangerous than natural drugs. Today we're looking at whether synthetic drugs are actually more dangerous than natural drugs.
1/5
Last time we explored how the stigma surrounding synthetic drugs gave them a reputation for being more dangerous than natural drugs. Today we're looking at whether synthetic drugs are actually more dangerous than natural drugs.
1/5
October 5, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday! 🥳 🥳 🥳
Last time we explored how the stigma surrounding synthetic drugs gave them a reputation for being more dangerous than natural drugs. Today we're looking at whether synthetic drugs are actually more dangerous than natural drugs.
1/5
Last time we explored how the stigma surrounding synthetic drugs gave them a reputation for being more dangerous than natural drugs. Today we're looking at whether synthetic drugs are actually more dangerous than natural drugs.
1/5
Hi friends,
This week’s article is an article about a type of drug called nitazines, how they were initially developed, and their introduction into the illicit drug market.
1/7
This week’s article is an article about a type of drug called nitazines, how they were initially developed, and their introduction into the illicit drug market.
1/7
October 2, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Hi friends,
This week’s article is an article about a type of drug called nitazines, how they were initially developed, and their introduction into the illicit drug market.
1/7
This week’s article is an article about a type of drug called nitazines, how they were initially developed, and their introduction into the illicit drug market.
1/7
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday! 🥳 🥳
Last time we looked at what a synthetic drug was. This time we’re looking at synthetic stigma.
During NZ's legal highs era, synthetic cannabinoids (such as Spice and K2) became the public face of synthetic drugs.
1/4
Last time we looked at what a synthetic drug was. This time we’re looking at synthetic stigma.
During NZ's legal highs era, synthetic cannabinoids (such as Spice and K2) became the public face of synthetic drugs.
1/4
September 28, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday! 🥳 🥳
Last time we looked at what a synthetic drug was. This time we’re looking at synthetic stigma.
During NZ's legal highs era, synthetic cannabinoids (such as Spice and K2) became the public face of synthetic drugs.
1/4
Last time we looked at what a synthetic drug was. This time we’re looking at synthetic stigma.
During NZ's legal highs era, synthetic cannabinoids (such as Spice and K2) became the public face of synthetic drugs.
1/4
Hi friends!
This week’s article is a review of recreational drug use in both transgender and cisgender populations.
1/8
This week’s article is a review of recreational drug use in both transgender and cisgender populations.
1/8
September 25, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Hi friends!
This week’s article is a review of recreational drug use in both transgender and cisgender populations.
1/8
This week’s article is a review of recreational drug use in both transgender and cisgender populations.
1/8
Hi friends,
This week’s article is about the drug trends in Australia between 2022-25. Usman et al. analysed wastewater samples from around Australia, as well as results from drug checkers (CANtest and CheQpoint), to see what kinds of drugs people were taking.
Here’s what they found:
1/7
This week’s article is about the drug trends in Australia between 2022-25. Usman et al. analysed wastewater samples from around Australia, as well as results from drug checkers (CANtest and CheQpoint), to see what kinds of drugs people were taking.
Here’s what they found:
1/7
September 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Hi friends,
This week’s article is about the drug trends in Australia between 2022-25. Usman et al. analysed wastewater samples from around Australia, as well as results from drug checkers (CANtest and CheQpoint), to see what kinds of drugs people were taking.
Here’s what they found:
1/7
This week’s article is about the drug trends in Australia between 2022-25. Usman et al. analysed wastewater samples from around Australia, as well as results from drug checkers (CANtest and CheQpoint), to see what kinds of drugs people were taking.
Here’s what they found:
1/7
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday 🥳🥳
This month, we're unpacking the myth that 'synthetic' drugs are inherently more dangerous than 'natural' drugs. Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic describe how a drug is made.
1/4
This month, we're unpacking the myth that 'synthetic' drugs are inherently more dangerous than 'natural' drugs. Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic describe how a drug is made.
1/4
September 14, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Hi friends! It’s Mythbuster Monday 🥳🥳
This month, we're unpacking the myth that 'synthetic' drugs are inherently more dangerous than 'natural' drugs. Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic describe how a drug is made.
1/4
This month, we're unpacking the myth that 'synthetic' drugs are inherently more dangerous than 'natural' drugs. Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic describe how a drug is made.
1/4
Hi friends! 💛
This week’s article examines attitudes toward cannabis in the UK. Wadsworth et al. analysed results from the International Cannabis Policy study, which included 3444 UK residents, 1590 of which had taken cannabis in the past year.
1/6
This week’s article examines attitudes toward cannabis in the UK. Wadsworth et al. analysed results from the International Cannabis Policy study, which included 3444 UK residents, 1590 of which had taken cannabis in the past year.
1/6
September 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Hi friends! 💛
This week’s article examines attitudes toward cannabis in the UK. Wadsworth et al. analysed results from the International Cannabis Policy study, which included 3444 UK residents, 1590 of which had taken cannabis in the past year.
1/6
This week’s article examines attitudes toward cannabis in the UK. Wadsworth et al. analysed results from the International Cannabis Policy study, which included 3444 UK residents, 1590 of which had taken cannabis in the past year.
1/6
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a global day of remembrance for those we've lost.
Preventing accidental overdose is one of the reasons why we started. With evidence-based info, people make safer choices.
Read our new writeup at the link below 💛
knowyourstuff.nz/internationa...
Preventing accidental overdose is one of the reasons why we started. With evidence-based info, people make safer choices.
Read our new writeup at the link below 💛
knowyourstuff.nz/internationa...
August 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a global day of remembrance for those we've lost.
Preventing accidental overdose is one of the reasons why we started. With evidence-based info, people make safer choices.
Read our new writeup at the link below 💛
knowyourstuff.nz/internationa...
Preventing accidental overdose is one of the reasons why we started. With evidence-based info, people make safer choices.
Read our new writeup at the link below 💛
knowyourstuff.nz/internationa...
We delivered our biggest year of drug checking yet!
💛 4,119 samples tested
💛 189 events across Aotearoa
💛 5,000+ clients supported
knowyourstuff.nz/report/knowy...
💛 4,119 samples tested
💛 189 events across Aotearoa
💛 5,000+ clients supported
knowyourstuff.nz/report/knowy...
August 25, 2026 at 6:12 AM
We delivered our biggest year of drug checking yet!
💛 4,119 samples tested
💛 189 events across Aotearoa
💛 5,000+ clients supported
knowyourstuff.nz/report/knowy...
💛 4,119 samples tested
💛 189 events across Aotearoa
💛 5,000+ clients supported
knowyourstuff.nz/report/knowy...
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today we're looking at The role of stigma in impeding implementation of harm reduction services in San Francisco by Akiba et al. Published in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health, December 2025.
1/n
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Today we're looking at The role of stigma in impeding implementation of harm reduction services in San Francisco by Akiba et al. Published in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health, December 2025.
1/n
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 31, 2026 at 4:34 AM
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today we're looking at The role of stigma in impeding implementation of harm reduction services in San Francisco by Akiba et al. Published in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health, December 2025.
1/n
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Today we're looking at The role of stigma in impeding implementation of harm reduction services in San Francisco by Akiba et al. Published in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health, December 2025.
1/n
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today's article is Not just fentanyl: Understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada, by Gonzalez-Nieto et al.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Today's article is Not just fentanyl: Understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada, by Gonzalez-Nieto et al.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 24, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today's article is Not just fentanyl: Understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada, by Gonzalez-Nieto et al.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Today's article is Not just fentanyl: Understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada, by Gonzalez-Nieto et al.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Hi Wellington friends! We're back with Massey Wellington for a lil' AMA yarn on Tuesday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am - 2pm, 28th July
💛 Where: Colab, Level C, Block 9 Massey Wellington campus, Wallace St., Mount Cook
Catch the elevator up from Tussock and you can't miss us 😊
💛 When: 11am - 2pm, 28th July
💛 Where: Colab, Level C, Block 9 Massey Wellington campus, Wallace St., Mount Cook
Catch the elevator up from Tussock and you can't miss us 😊
July 24, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Hi Wellington friends! We're back with Massey Wellington for a lil' AMA yarn on Tuesday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am - 2pm, 28th July
💛 Where: Colab, Level C, Block 9 Massey Wellington campus, Wallace St., Mount Cook
Catch the elevator up from Tussock and you can't miss us 😊
💛 When: 11am - 2pm, 28th July
💛 Where: Colab, Level C, Block 9 Massey Wellington campus, Wallace St., Mount Cook
Catch the elevator up from Tussock and you can't miss us 😊
Hi Wellington friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening next Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am-2pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Newtown Community Centre, Corner of Rintoul and Colombo streets, Newtown.
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
💛 When: 11am-2pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Newtown Community Centre, Corner of Rintoul and Colombo streets, Newtown.
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
July 24, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Hi Wellington friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening next Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am-2pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Newtown Community Centre, Corner of Rintoul and Colombo streets, Newtown.
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
💛 When: 11am-2pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Newtown Community Centre, Corner of Rintoul and Colombo streets, Newtown.
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
Hi Waikato friends! We've got our regular monthly drug checking clinic happening next weekend, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 4-7pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Basement of The Community House, 45 Bow St, Raglan
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
💛 When: 4-7pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Basement of The Community House, 45 Bow St, Raglan
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
July 23, 2026 at 6:44 AM
Hi Waikato friends! We've got our regular monthly drug checking clinic happening next weekend, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 4-7pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Basement of The Community House, 45 Bow St, Raglan
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
💛 When: 4-7pm, 1st August
💛 Where: Basement of The Community House, 45 Bow St, Raglan
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal 💛
Hi Auckland friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening next Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 6-9pm, 1st August
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come & find out what's in your stuff 💛
💛 When: 6-9pm, 1st August
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come & find out what's in your stuff 💛
July 23, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Hi Auckland friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening next Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 6-9pm, 1st August
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come & find out what's in your stuff 💛
💛 When: 6-9pm, 1st August
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come & find out what's in your stuff 💛
We had a couple of things to say regarding the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Bill
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Good Samaritan bill should look at friend group drug sharing - MPs told
MPs have been asked to consider how friend groups may share drugs, as they look at a possible law change to protecting overdose call-ins from prosecution.
www.rnz.co.nz
July 22, 2026 at 5:23 AM
We had a couple of things to say regarding the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Bill
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Hi friends! This month's blog is a deep dive into the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill (aka the Good Samaritan bill). We talk about:
💛 How the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill protects people calling for help
1/n
knowyourstuff.nz/aotearoas-dr...
💛 How the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill protects people calling for help
1/n
knowyourstuff.nz/aotearoas-dr...
Aotearoa's Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill
This month we're looking at the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill. We discuss what Good Samaritan laws look like overseas and what ours will do.
knowyourstuff.nz
July 20, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Hi friends! This month's blog is a deep dive into the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill (aka the Good Samaritan bill). We talk about:
💛 How the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill protects people calling for help
1/n
knowyourstuff.nz/aotearoas-dr...
💛 How the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill protects people calling for help
1/n
knowyourstuff.nz/aotearoas-dr...
Hi Wellington friends! We're going to be at the Te Tira Ahu Pae Market Day on Thursday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am-1pm, 23rd July
💛 Where: The Pyramid, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook
💛 When: 11am-1pm, 23rd July
💛 Where: The Pyramid, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook
July 20, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Hi Wellington friends! We're going to be at the Te Tira Ahu Pae Market Day on Thursday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 11am-1pm, 23rd July
💛 Where: The Pyramid, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook
💛 When: 11am-1pm, 23rd July
💛 Where: The Pyramid, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook
Hi Whānganui friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening this Friday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 12-5pm, 24th July
💛 Where: Whānganui DHDP, 195 Wicksteed St, Whānganui
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come and find out what's in your stuff 💛
💛 When: 12-5pm, 24th July
💛 Where: Whānganui DHDP, 195 Wicksteed St, Whānganui
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come and find out what's in your stuff 💛
July 20, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Hi Whānganui friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening this Friday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 12-5pm, 24th July
💛 Where: Whānganui DHDP, 195 Wicksteed St, Whānganui
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come and find out what's in your stuff 💛
💛 When: 12-5pm, 24th July
💛 Where: Whānganui DHDP, 195 Wicksteed St, Whānganui
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal, so come and find out what's in your stuff 💛
Hi Christchurch friends! Just dropping by to let you know that our UCSA clinic next week is on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday 😊
💛 When: 3-7pm, 21st July
💛 Where: Haere-roa Clubs meeting room, 90 Ilam Road, UCSA
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 3-7pm, 21st July
💛 Where: Haere-roa Clubs meeting room, 90 Ilam Road, UCSA
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
July 17, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Hi Christchurch friends! Just dropping by to let you know that our UCSA clinic next week is on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday 😊
💛 When: 3-7pm, 21st July
💛 Where: Haere-roa Clubs meeting room, 90 Ilam Road, UCSA
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 3-7pm, 21st July
💛 Where: Haere-roa Clubs meeting room, 90 Ilam Road, UCSA
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
Hi Wellington friends! We've got a special drug checking clinic next week 🎉🎉🎉
💛 When: 11am-3pm, 22nd July
💛 Where: Room 9C17 in the CoLab space, Block 9, Level C, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook.
Head up the elevators across the hall from Tussock and look for the yellow 😊
💛 When: 11am-3pm, 22nd July
💛 Where: Room 9C17 in the CoLab space, Block 9, Level C, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook.
Head up the elevators across the hall from Tussock and look for the yellow 😊
July 17, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Hi Wellington friends! We've got a special drug checking clinic next week 🎉🎉🎉
💛 When: 11am-3pm, 22nd July
💛 Where: Room 9C17 in the CoLab space, Block 9, Level C, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook.
Head up the elevators across the hall from Tussock and look for the yellow 😊
💛 When: 11am-3pm, 22nd July
💛 Where: Room 9C17 in the CoLab space, Block 9, Level C, Massey Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Mount Cook.
Head up the elevators across the hall from Tussock and look for the yellow 😊
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today we're looking at Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies by Pulido-Saavara et al, published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, January 2025.
1/n
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Today we're looking at Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies by Pulido-Saavara et al, published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, January 2025.
1/n
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
July 17, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Hi friends! It's Peer Review Friday 🎉🎉🎉
Today we're looking at Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies by Pulido-Saavara et al, published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, January 2025.
1/n
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Today we're looking at Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies by Pulido-Saavara et al, published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, January 2025.
1/n
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Hi Auckland friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening on Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 6-9pm, 18th July
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 6-9pm, 18th July
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
July 14, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Hi Auckland friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening on Saturday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 6-9pm, 18th July
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 6-9pm, 18th July
💛 Where: The Button Factory, 2 Abbey Street, Auckland Central
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
Hi Bay of Plenty friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening this Friday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 12-3pm, 17 July
💛 Where: 21b Totara Street, Mount Maunganui. Use the Phoenix St. entrance 😊
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 12-3pm, 17 July
💛 Where: 21b Totara Street, Mount Maunganui. Use the Phoenix St. entrance 😊
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
July 14, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Hi Bay of Plenty friends! We've got a drug checking clinic happening this Friday, so come and say hi 😊
💛 When: 12-3pm, 17 July
💛 Where: 21b Totara Street, Mount Maunganui. Use the Phoenix St. entrance 😊
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛
💛 When: 12-3pm, 17 July
💛 Where: 21b Totara Street, Mount Maunganui. Use the Phoenix St. entrance 😊
Drug checking is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and 100% legal💛