Article by Hans Oeri

Drug Checking for Harm Reduction

In recent years, conversations about drug use have shifted from a focus on punishment toward a focus on health, safety, and education. At the heart of this transformation is the practice of drug checking: analyzing street substances to determine their contents. Knowing what’s really inside a pill, powder, or crystal can save lives and dramatically reduce risks.

This is where Kykeon Analytics comes in. Located in Canada and Spain, our team of chemists, researchers, and harm reduction advocates has dedicated itself to providing reliable, independent testing of psychoactive substances. Our work bridges the gap between science and public health, empowering individuals with knowledge while generating valuable data about drug markets and trends

Where Our Journey Began

Kykeon Analytics was born from necessity. Several of us were already active in harm reduction projects, from festival outreach to community-based drug education and we repeatedly saw the same problem: people were consuming substances without knowing their purity or composition, putting themselves at unnecessary risk.

Kykeon’s story is one of steady growth, guided by curiosity, persistence, and the belief that science can save lives. It started as an idea and took its first steps in Canada and officially took shape in 2020, when Kykeon was established as a legal entity. The original idea was to create an “market monitoring” platform to help bring some clarity and safety into the ever-growing scene of grey-market “research chemicals” (RCs). The idea was to publish verified data about RCs online, so that users could make safe choices about which vendors to trust and which to avoid. At the same we wanted to create a database of infrared spectra which would help other drug checking groups identify all of these new chemicals.

To facilitate this work, in early 2021 we completed the construction of a laboratory in Vic, near Barcelona and in 2022, routine  laboratory analysis began, generating a lot of data for market monitoring and building what would become a growing database of substances and adulterants. By the end of 2023we finally launched our International Drug Checking Service, which allows people from around the world to submit samples for advanced and fully anonymous laboratory analysis.

Our Mission

At Kykeon Analytics, our mission is rooted in harm reduction and the belief that reliable knowledge saves lives. To achieve this, we work on several interconnected fronts.

We monitor drug markets closely, paying special attention to research chemicals, newly emerging psychoactive substances, and psychoactive plants. Our laboratory specializes in identifying and characterizing unknown compounds, ensuring that communities are not left in the dark when new substances appear.

We also contribute to the scientific ecosystem by creating a spectral library of novel chemical entities for FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), a fast and reliable tool to find out what drug is in a sample. This resource is shared with researchers and harm reduction organizations for free.

A central pillar of our work is the Drug Checking Service, which allows individuals to anonymously submit samples for laboratory analysis. This service is at the heart of our mission: transforming cutting-edge analytical chemistry into practical harm reduction. By offering affordable and reliable testing, we provide people with the knowledge they need to make safer decisions, while also generating valuable data that helps us track trends, identify new substances, and share timely alerts with the community whenever mislabelled or adulterated products are detected.

Beyond the laboratory, Kykeon is committed to education and advocacy pushing for evidence-based drug policies that prioritize human rights and wellbeing.

Why and How We Test

Drug checking may sound straightforward—test a substance, get a result—but the science behind it is complex. Our lab uses a range of state-of-the-art techniques to identify and quantify substances:

●      Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS): A highly sensitive analytical technique, which can detect and identify substances and adulterants in a sample in even femtogram amounts.

●      Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): A robust screening tool that provides a chemical “fingerprint”, and is relatively easy to use.

●      MicroNIR Spectroscopy: A portable and non-destructive method that allows rapid, reliable screening of powders and crystals.

●      Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR): A powerful analytical technique which looks at the atomic nuclei of atoms in a molecule. It can be used to elucidate the structure of molecules and determine the purity of samples.

As complementary tools, we also make use of reagent tests and test strips. These simpler methods cannot replace laboratory analyses, but they are valuable for quick, on-the-spot checks and can provide useful qualitative information in community or nightlife settings.

Each method has its strengths and limitations. Reagent tests are especially useful for ruling out when a substance is not what it is supposed to be—for example, showing that a pill contains no MDMA at all—while advanced methods like LC-MS and NMR can determine exact purity levels and uncover unexpected adulterants.

Testing is always done under strict laboratory conditions. Samples arrive either through community projects, collaborations, or directly from individuals who send them anonymously. Each submission is catalogued, analyzed, and reported back with clear results.

The cost of analysis depends on the method. A simple qualitative FTIR screening starts at €20, while the most advanced option—such as differentiating and quantifying ketamine isomers—costs €150.  This range allows people to choose the analysis level that best fits their needs and resources.

Turnaround time is designed to be fast and practical. Most standard results are available within only one week. Regardless of the service chosen, users receive a clear, plain-language report of the results in addition to all of the technical analytical data and spectra, with the option to publicly share it through our results sharing service or to keep it completely anonymous.

 

Results and Discoveries

Our work has uncovered a wide range of fascinating—and sometimes alarming—findings. Many of the trends we detect align with official reports, while others reveal issues that are rarely discussed in public.

One of the most consistent patterns is related to purity. We frequently encounter MDMA in crystals of very high purity (around 90%), as well as pills containing unusually high doses of the substance (more than 200mg). Cocaine samples often show similarly high purity levels, but here the picture is more complex. Alongside genuine cocaine, we regularly detect unexpected adulterants such as caffeine, lidocaine, or other local anesthetics. In some cases, the “cocaine” submitted to us turned out to be nothing more than caffeine mixed with phenacetin. In addition, we have identified several novel nitazenes—potent synthetic opioids—and unregulated benzodiazepines appearing in the drug market.

Beyond these trends, Kykeon also works to clarify myths and unverified claims: our analysis showed that Psilomethoxin was simply psilocybin; and in 2024, in partnership with the governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, we confirmed that the street drug Kush contained synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes—dispelling rumors and providing reliable data to address the synthetic drug challenge in West Africa. A recent case concerns ketamine isomers: despite persistent rumors of pure S- or R-ketamine on the street, all samples tested so far have been the usual 50/50 mix, which is why we launched the ongoing Community Science Challenge to investigate the claim systematically and contribute data to a formal study

These results are more than just chemical curiosities. They provide life-saving information to individuals, and they help researchers and policymakers understand the realities of drug markets in real time.

Legal Position

One of the most common questions we face is: is this legal?

We understand that sending a controlled substance for analysis can raise concerns, especially in countries where even simple possession carries harsh consequences. Responsibility is shared. On the participant’s side, it is essential to follow best practices: pack the sample safely, use discreet shipping, and avoid including any personal details that could identify you.

On our side, Kykeon operates in a fortunate legal context in Spain, where handling controlled substances on private premises for scientific uses, especially if they benefit public health,is not a crime . Additionally, Kykeon ensures the highest standards of anonymity and confidentiality. We never share personal data with authorities, we accept payment in various cryptocurrencies to further protect privacy, and our workflows are designed specifically to minimize legal risks for participants.

Still, the legal gray area in many countries highlights the need for reform. In our view, drug checking should be a protected public health service, just like testing food or water for contamination.

Challenges and Conclusion

Running a drug-checking service comes with challenges. Public perception remains a major one: despite growing recognition of harm reduction, drug checking is still stigmatized and often misunderstood. This is reflected in the way social media platforms censor or close the accounts of organizations like ours, under the false belief that we “encourage” drug use when our goal is safety and informed choice.

We also face the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances, which often outpace scientific tools and reference libraries and standards. Staying ahead requires constant effort to identify and classify compounds so that communities receive reliable information.

Funding is another challenge. Kykeon receives no public support, which limits our reach but also ensures economic independence—especially valuable in a time when harm-reduction funding in the United States is in crisis. This independence allows us to remain free from government agendas and openly critical of drug policy. For now, we sustain our work through revenue from routine, low-cost analyses, which also finances advanced testing, research, and policy work.

Despite these obstacles, our principle is unchanged: if people are going to use drugs, they should know what they are consuming. Every test, every trend, and every resource we share contributes to a safer, more informed society. Knowledge saves lives—and at Kykeon, knowledge and safety are our mission.

 

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