Students at the University of Victoria will soon have access to drug checking on campus as part of a pilot project aimed at preventing overdoses. UVic says it could begin offering pop up drug testing services as early as October, along with a drop box where students can anonymously submit samples. The services will be operated by Substance, a team of UVic researchers that offers drug testing on Cook Street in Victoria’s Fernwood neighbourhood. “Initially, we’re focusing on those sort of high impact dates, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day,” said Nicole Greengoe, UVic’s executive director of wellness, recreation and athletics. “But we’re open to offering more throughout the year, randomly throughout the year.” Greengoe said the trial could also shift to a scheduled model to ensure the service is available at predictable times. UVic is legally allowed to operate the service after receiving an exemption under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Trial follows overdose death The drug checking trial follows the death of 18 year old student Sidney McIntyre Starko. In January 2024, McIntyre Starko and two other students ingested what they thought was cocaine in a campus dorm. The drugs turned out to be tainted with fentanyl. A coroner’s inquest jury made several recommendations to UVic, including ensuring students have information about how to access drug testing. “It was a big lesson for the university to proactively support its students and have the resources needed,” said Tam Aljundi, the UVic Students’ Society’s director of campaigns and community relations. Aljundi said the new harm reduction service is welcome, but it’s unfortunate it took so long to implement after McIntyre Starko’s death. He hopes the pop ups become permanent. “I hope that this step that the university is taking, they realize is just the first step,” he said. “It’s not the end of the road.” Greengoe said that since McIntyre Starko’s death, UVic has ensured every student residence building is equipped with naloxone kits. The university has also updated its policy to make it clear students won’t be punished if they call for help in drug related emergencies. ‘It really isn’t sufficient’ A team of physicians said the pop up model does not go far enough. Before the announcement of the pilot project, Doctors for Safer Drug Policy set up a drug checking booth on campus during the first week of classes. UVic was aware the doctors were on site but did not invite them to be there. “There was overwhelming support, both from parents and from students,” said Dr. Ryan Herriot, one of the group’s founders. “Many parents were asking how they can help make sure that this is established in a permanent way.” Herriot said that is where the trial falls short. “They’re only going to provide the service during large parties, for example. That in and of itself is a stigmatizing concept that sort of misses the point,” he said. “It really isn’t sufficient. It does not communicate the seriousness that this issue needs to be taken with.” He wants to see the university establish a brick and mortar service with regular hours. Greengoe noted the drop box will be available 24/7. She said the university will track how many students use the new drug checking services and what types of substances they’re submitting. “We really also want to know what questions students are asking. What are their needs? What might be a better model down the road?” she said. “This is a pilot for one or two years. And as we gain and seek more information, we’ll know where that’s going to take us in the future.”
