Building Drug Checking Capacity through Provincial Operational Tools
BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU)
Program Design + Evaluation
Housed within the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), the Drug Checking Program supports a province-wide network of community-based services that help people identify what’s in their drugs and make more informed choices.
Operating in partnership with BC’s health authorities and harm reduction organizations, the program combines cutting-edge technology, training, and real-time data sharing to advance safer use and respond to the toxic drug crisis across the province.
Challenge
As the network grew, the BCCSU recognized the need for consistent, evidence-informed operational tools that could bridge scientific rigor with the lived realities of harm reduction practice.
The team sought a partner who could translate emerging evidence and frontline knowledge into clear, accessible resources without losing the community-centered ethos that defines drug checking. They needed technical writing support for scientific and policy audiences, alongside plain-language implementation tools that would be practical for frontline teams.
Solution
Changemark partnered with BCCSU to design and develop a suite of knowledge translation and implementation tools to support the scale-up of drug checking services across BC.
We combined literature reviews, key informant interviews, and real-world program insights to ensure the resulting resources reflected both technical accuracy and the realities of frontline delivery.
The project included:
Technical Reports
New Drug Checking Instruments in Canada: A Summary of Technology Developments (2024)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Managing Privacy and Personal Information (2025)
Sample Collection, Storage, and Transportation (2025)
Best Practice Guidance
Third Party Drug Checking Without Consent (2024)
Operational Guidance Documents
Results
The resulting suite of documents has become a cornerstone of BC’s drug checking system, enabling health authorities, community organizations, and frontline technicians to implement, evaluate, and adapt services more effectively.
Together, these tools:
Strengthened consistency and quality across the provincial drug checking network
Increased the usability and accessibility of complex technical guidance
Supported safe and ethical service delivery rooted in community priorities
Helped bridge practice-based and research-based knowledge to inform ongoing policy and service innovation
By pairing rigor with practicality, BCCSU and Changemark helped ensure that evidence translates into action, supporting safer, more informed drug use across British Columbia.
Interested in learning more?
Let’s talk about how we can help you translate complex evidence into tools that drive change.
