Drug checking: What can Australia’s Victoria learn from Canada’s Victoria?

Hosted by Social Equity Research Centre, RMIT, Swanston St, Melbourne.

Co-hosted by the Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Harm Reduction Victoria, Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, Yarra Drug and Health Forum and the Victorian Substance Use Research Forum

When: Tuesday 20^th August, 4-5:30pm, followed by drinks/networking

Where: This is a hybrid event. Register here for in-person or online attendance: https://events.humanitix.com/drug-checking-what-can-australia-s-victoria-learn-from-canada-s-victoria

What: Prof Chris Gill (from Victoria, BC, Canada) will give a 30-min talk based on his experiences heading up the chemistry component of Victoria’s Substance drug checking service. This will be followed by 15 mins Q&A. Then we will move into a panel discussion for the remaining 45 minutes. Panellists include: Chris Gill, Jenn Schumann, Nick Kent, Stephanie Tzanetis, Malcolm McLeod and Sarah Hiley.

Title of event: Drug checking: What can Australia’s Victoria learn from Canada’s Victoria?

Main speaker: Professor Chris Gill

Title of talk: Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry for Drug Checking – From Idea to Harm Reduction Intervention

Abstract: During the rapid rise of the opioid overdose crisis in British Columbia in 2017, our research group became involved in evaluating potential mass spectrometry-based methods for direct, sensitive and quantitative harm reduction drug checking.  Presented will be a summary of how our work with paper spray mass spectrometry has evolved from laboratory experiments to an on-site method used to check drugs in downtown Victoria, BC, Canada. Overall, the PS-MS is demonstrating its value in responding to the challenges of this tragic public health crisis by being engaged in street-level harm reduction and providing highly relevant and usable results to individuals as well as public health.

Bio: Chris Gill is a Chemistry Professor at Vancouver Island University and co-director of the Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL). He maintains active international collaborations, including visiting professorships in Germany and Italy. He was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award at VIU and a Distinguished Chemistry Alumni Award at the University of British Columbia. The central theme of his research is the development of direct mass spectrometry (DMS) methods for complex sample measurements, which have led to advances for environmental, industrial and clinical/bioanalytical diagnostics. The development of mobilized direct mass spectrometry platforms for geospatially resolved, quantitative environmental measurements has transformed in field measurement capacity. Chris’ research interests continue to involve the DMS developments and applications for direct, real-time chemical measurements. This includes high precision systems and approaches for improved environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, forensic testing, and the development and implementation of rapid, on-site drug testing strategies for use in the opioid overdose crisis.