Year-round onsite drug testing at Drumsheds and The Warehouse Project to be introduced by The Loop

Harm reduction charity The Loop has been granted a licence to carry out onsite drug testing at two of the largest club venues in the UK, London’s Drumsheds and The Warehouse Project in Manchester.

Having received new Home Office (HO) licensing to test at music venues, The Loop will provide mobile laboratories onsite at both clubs during operating hours to “rapidly and accurately test substances of concern and disseminate test results” with the aim of “reducing drug-related harm.”

“With our drug testing being completed at festivals, a seasonal industry, we have been concerned that this does not go far enough in maintaining regular drug intelligence across the UK, and importantly throughout the year,” said Katy Porter, CEO of The Loop.

“The introduction of our year-round onsite testing into a venue in both London and Manchester will provide intelligence for real time risk management and harm reduction information that can be quickly shared with the public, other venues and wider stakeholders to reduce the potential of significant harms.”

The Home Office’s decision to reinstate licenses to allow festivals to undertake back-of-house drug testing earlier this year was described as “life saving”, with charities having been prevented from carrying out testing at festivals the previous year. The Loop received the first ever HO licences issued for drug testing for UK festivals in spring 2024, and for UK venues in autumn 2024.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to public safety and harm reduction, we are proud to collaborate with The Loop in bringing their innovative drug testing service to Drumsheds,” Sam Spencer, Head of Operations at Drumsheds and 9.8, shared in a statement.

“We believe in taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all audiences and the introduction of testing is a significant move in that direction. The information gathered helps us continue to respond in real-time to potential risks, and following the ONS report of increased drug-related harms, this initiative represents a crucial shift in how the industry responds.”

The Loop’s first ever back-of-house testing took place at The Warehouse Project in October 2013, and 11 years later, the charity is returning with year-round onsite testing at the venue.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, The Loop’s CEO Katy Porter explained the importance of their work in monitoring the “ever-changing” trends in UK drug markets to ensure people’s awareness and safety. For instance, warnings have been issued at numerous points this year over dangerously high-strength MDMA in circulation. “That poses risk for people, if they think they might be taking something of lower strength and it turns out to be much stronger than they think it is,” said Porter. 

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) described the programme as a “groundbreaking step forward”, stressing the “urgent need for informed, real-time responses” in the UK’s rapidly changing drug market.

Find out more about The Loop’s vital work here.

The Loop launched the UK’s first regular drug-checking service in Bristol earlier this year, in partnership with Bristol Drugs Project (BPD) and Bristol City Council, as well as an online training course to raise awareness about drug use at music festivals and events.