Page 8 - Know Your Stuff News Today

Testers dub this 'the summer of cathinones' after substance discovered in place of MDMA.

Wellingtonians warned harmful substances in party drugs well-distributed across NZ 30 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM 3 minutes to read NZ Herald Party-goers in the capital are being urged to take extra care over New Year, with an increased amount of harmful substances found in party drugs during pill testing at festivals. A number of posts were made to Wellington-based Facebook page Vic Deals, warning people about harmful substances in the party drug MDMA. Volunteer organisation Know Your Stuff NZ has been...

New Years Eve: All you need to know to ring in the new year 30 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM 5 minutes to read Whats on Skycity fireworks and Vector lights on the Auckland Harbour Bridge: A five-minute fireworks and light show will kick off at midnight. The moment will also be broadcast on TVNZ 1, 2 and Duke. The best places to view the light show are the waterfront, Devonport, Herne Bay, Te Atatū Peninsula, Bastion Pt, Northcote and Mt Eden and Bayswater Marina. Before the fireworks, head to the America...

File photo. Photo: 123RF Know Your Stuff deputy manager Jez Weston says there has been an increase in synthetic cathinone, also known as bath salts, being mis-sold as MDMA. "Initially they feel a bit like MDMA, theres a bit of euphoria but that wears off in about an hour, leaving people just stimulated and agitated and tempted to take more," Weston said. If people did re-dose, they could struggle to sleep for 24 to 48 hours, have head aches, stomach upsets, confusion and seizures, he said. Bu...

Despite an urgent law change to allow pill testing, most summer festivals won't offer drug checks.

Festival drug warning: Testing group says MDMA substituted for dangerous cathinones 26 Dec, 2020 10:51 PM 5 minutes to read Social issues reporter, NZ Heraldmichael.neilson@nzherald.co.nz Summer festival attendees are being warned of an "incredibly dangerous" substitute increasingly turning up in MDMA being tested. Know Your Stuff has reported in its drug checking clinics over the past few months increasing incidents of what people thought would be pure MDMA either turning out to be just cathin...

Toxic chemical methylenedianiline sold as MDMA in Auckland 22 Dec, 2020 11:05 PM 5 minutes to read Fresh advice has been issued to drug users over a toxic industrial chemical being sold in place of MDMA in Auckland. Harm reduction service Know Your Stuff has responded to a number of queries about methylenedianiline and offered a solution for users looking to see if they have obtained tainted drugs. The alarm about the chemical was first raised last month, through the drug early warning website ...

The technology used (FT-IR spectroscopy) can tell prospective drug takers exactly what substances their sample contains, including active ingredients, fillers, cuts or potentially dangerous substitutions or additives. It cannot measure purity. Previously, these organisations have operated in a legal grey area as by testing small quantities, they are technically in possession of illegal substances - meaning they are at risk of prosecution. However, the recent law change now provides the organisa...

The recent law change makes it easier for illicit drugs to be tested at festivals.