Fiona Measham

Chair in Criminology @LivUni | Founder @WeAreTheLoopUK @WeAreTheLoopAU | Also @fmeasham.bsky.social

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

Happy 10th birthday to #drugchecking in the UK!
@WeAreTheLoopUK has grown from 1 festival field to 4 @ukhomeoffice licensed city drug checking services now open & more in the pipeline.
Thank you to all supporters, staff, stakeholders & The Loop’s *amazing* volunteers.
♾️💜♾️

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Ten years ago today, The Loop introduced drug checking in the UK, at Secret Garden Party and Kendal Calling festivals.
@KendalCalling

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@NevilleSouthall I🫶🏻 Mud! 🐅👣

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

The Loop London drug checking service tested an orange Trump pill: the acquisition intent of the surrendered pill was MDMA and testing found that the pill contained 4-CMC, caffeine and MDMA.

Be cautious when redosing: taking more may increase the risk of unwanted effects.

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Hackney.
How does it work?
1. Surrender a substance
2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use
3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids
4. After~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice
https://t.co/yXaWKNenKm

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@harlan38 If only drug checking services were licensed, funded & opened at a click of my fingers! I wish! 🧚

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

And I shoehorned in the importance of #drugchecking for drug market surveillance, communicating risk & overdose prevention, ahead of the exciting announcement from Scotland that the Glasgow drug checking service is opening *next week*!

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Watch Prof Fiona Measham, founder of The Loop, in her recent full BBC Breakfast interview on synthetic opioids, drug adulteration and emerging risks in the UK drug market.

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Want to better understand chemsex, sexualised drug use and associated harms?
Join a training informed by frontline experience across drug use, sexual health and harm reduction, with practical support for people working where sex and drug use intersect.
➡️https://t.co/9zKKqwlIsk

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@harlan38 Yes there are plans for Edinburgh, Aberdeen & Dundee later this year.

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@ranjitbhandal 🫶🏻

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@IridiscentBlue @WeAreTheLoopUK @BBCBreaking @DrugCheckingDay @Drug_Science @livuninews @LivUniResearch @LiverpoolGuild @changegrowlive @BDProads @TheDrop_BDP @BBCBreakfast @BBCiPlayer Yes they only keep BBC Breakfast on iPlayer for 24 hours hence The Loop posted the clip on their socials rather than the link.

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Bristol
How does it work?
1. Surrender a substance
2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use
3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids
4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice
https://t.co/yXaWKNenKm

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

@sdfpk Correct!

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

The autumn season of @WeAreTheLoopUK training sessions kicks off next week. Watch this space for announcements about the full programme!
♾️💜♾️

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

What’s changing in the UK drug market in 2026?

Join The Loop online on 15 Sept for evidence on current trends, price & purity, published drug checking findings, novel synthetic opioids, high-strength MDMA and more.

Book via Eventbrite:
https://t.co/YW1Mcg8fZT

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Join The Loop on 23 Sept for training exploring rapidly evolving drug trends in depth, including current UK and international drug market data, effects, risks and harm reduction approaches.

Book via Eventbrite: https://t.co/WghGyZ8WDI

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

On Saturday, we are drug checking in #Hackney.
How does it work?
1. Surrender a substance
2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use
3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids
4. After~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice
https://t.co/yXaWKNdPUO

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

This Saturday, we are drug checking in #Camden
How does it work?
1. Surrender a substance
2. Tell us what you think it is & about your drug use
3. We do lab tests inc. a test for synthetic opioids
4. After ~1 hour, we have results & can give honest advice
https://t.co/yXaWKNdPUO

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Important alert from @Trimbos_Intl : a two-colour Trump ecstasy pill containing a life-threatening amount of PMMA has been identified in the Netherlands.

Please see the alert below for details and harm reduction information.

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Our testing throughout 2026 continues to show minimal evidence of adulteration across the UK MDMA market, including pills and crystal.

Lower adulteration does not mean lower risk: strength can still vary considerably. #GoSlowStayLow
⬇️

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

We are at Lost Village!
Our chemists are prioritising substances of concern from medics, helping provide timely information about emerging drug market trends and inform harm reduction responses during the festival.
@lostvillagefest

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

“The culture is getting older because the people who created it are getting older. That’s not a problem to be solved; it’s a natural consequence of a culture that has lasted for decades.“
#jungle
https://t.co/t88kznGqhP

[Fiona Measham @FMeasham]

Free Loop #harmreduction resources!
At:-
https://t.co/8nsWf8x2ls

[The Loop @WeAreTheLoopUK]

Great to see Rave Safe OAPs handing out Loop drug harm reduction infographic flyers at Boomtown 2026! Get the full res files on our website:
https://t.co/ZngmRjTQjV