Module Two: Funding

Funding a drug checking program

Securing Funding

The first step to starting a drug checking program is securing the necessary funding. Drug checking is a financially intensive intervention; equipment, staff time, training, and lab-based secondary verification testing are all major expenses. Additionally, be sure include funding for technical assistance, implementation support, and training into the budget. Drug checking requires in-depth knowledge and subject matter expertise. Thankfully, many of the major expenses are front-loaded as one-time expenditures during the first year of operation (e.g., the instrument is a one-time purchase). After year one, equipment costs and the need for training should be minimal, and the amount of needed secondary verification testing may decrease. Ongoing costs after year one typically include consumable materials (test strips, alcohol wipes, etc.), staff time, and secondary verification testing for a minimum of 10% of the total volume of samples. There may also be some ongoing training costs, depending on the expansion of the program. See the Sample Drug Checking Program Budget below for a more detailed breakdown of costs.

Generally we don’t recommend trying to stand up a drug checking program on a shoe-string budget, or at the expense of other other critical harm reduction interventions. If there is not sufficient funding for supplies like syringes, naloxone, and safer smoking equipment, those interventions should be prioritized over drug checking. At the same time, drug checking programs can roll out in stages; starting out slowly and expanding as funding becomes more accessible. Programs can start out using immunoassay strips only or mailing samples to a secondary verification lab to get a general idea of the local drug landscape and to begin community engagement around drug checking. These initial steps can help establish the need and demand for drug checking, as well as demonstrate efficacy. Programs can then use this groundwork to advocate for additional funding to expand the program. When budgeting for a point-of-care drug checking program with a spectrometer, we recommend ensuring sufficient funding for at least 1) the drug checking equipment; 2) secondary lab verification; 3) training and technical assistance; and 4) some amount of protected staff time.

Funding Sources

Funding sources for drug checking are difficult to find, and there is not yet a consistent and predictable avenue for funding. Increasing interest in harm reduction from government funders, coupled with opioid settlement dollars has resulted in a larger amount of money available for harm reduction and harm reduction services than ever before, but funding sources and partnerships specifically for drug checking are still highly varied and inconsistent. Several programs have been funded through the OD2A (Overdose Data to Action) funding stream from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). State, county and city governments or health departments are now beginning to fund drug checking programs, and programs funded in this way often have the greatest amount of legal protection and support. For example, New York has both city and state funded programs¹, and the state of Minnesota has earmarked funding for drug checking programs², expected to be launched in 2025. Other programs have secured private funding through charitable foundations with an interest in combating the overdose crisis. Private funding can be helpful for regions in which drug checking is not yet explicitly legal and city or state governments aren’t willing to consider funding drug checking due to its legal status. Still, others have partnered with universities to do drug checking as part of a research study³. The equipment, staff time, and secondary testing are paid through research funding, but the service is embedded at and staffed by a local harm reduction program. It is also possible to mix and match funding sources, covering staff-time, equipment costs, and ongoing lab testing from different grants and funding streams. While funding remains a major challenge to the expansion of drug checking, there are also opportunities to be scrappy and creative in securing the needed funding. As drug checking gains momentum, more funding sources are expected to come online to help support drug checking programs.

Understanding Expectations

For any source of funding, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what the funder’s expectations are and whether they are in line with harm reduction principles and values. For example, a state that wants to fund drug checking at a community-based organization but expects data from drug checking to be shared with local law enforcement is not a good partnership. In this case, data from drug checking programs could be used to directly influence arrests, drug seizures, and raids, contributing to the criminalization of people who use drugs. What’s more, a drug checking program that is even perceived to be providing information to law enforcement will not be patronized by people who use drugs and will ultimately be unsuccessful. Be extra thorough about expectations when partnering with governmental agencies and research institutions and be aware of what strings may be attached to any funding agreements.

Tips for Funding a Drug Checking Program

Give yourself enough time. Getting a drug checking program up and running can take months if not years. Set a realistic timeline with funders and be sure all players understand how long the process may take.
The end of a fiscal year (spend down season!) can be a good time to use surplus funds to purchase drug checking equipment. Learn when the federal fiscal year ends as well as state, county, and city fiscal years and start talking to those contacts several months in advance.
Combine funding from different pools: harm reduction grants from governments or philanthropy organizations, private grants, and donations. For example, capital expenditures may be tricky for governmental funding, but personnel costs might be easier.
For larger institutions, consider searching for OD2A funding.
Don’t accept small amounts of funding to carry out an unrealistic amount of work. Don’t commit to anything beyond what the funding will realistically cover.
Be clear with funders about what data is being collected. Data that is required to be reported to funders should be the minimum necessary and should not include any personally identifying information or specific information related to how or where the drug was obtained.
Make sure any required deliverables are realistic. Ask other drug checking programs to get a sense for what types of deliverables are feasible.
Carefully assess the power dynamics involved when partnering with a large institution. Are you able to advocate on behalf of your community? Is there a risk that you’ll be trapped by restrictive protocols? Institutional dynamics are something we can cover in the Remedy Alliance Drug Checking Office Hours! (See Continuing Education for more information.)

Related Resources

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

Module Two: Funding

Table of contents

Securing Funding

Funding Sources

Understanding Expectations

Related Resources

Opioid Settlements, Harm Reduction, and Leveraging Local Health Department Expertise

Navigating the Harm Reduction Funding Landscape

Harm Reduction Hacks: Hacks for SSP Fundraising

Drug Checking Program Sample Budget

Previous Module

Module One: History of Drug Checking

Next Module

Module Three: Conceptualizing a Drug Checking Program

Table of contents

Securing Funding

Funding Sources

Understanding Expectations

Related Resources

Opioid Settlements, Harm Reduction, and Leveraging Local Health Department Expertise

Navigating the Harm Reduction Funding Landscape

Harm Reduction Hacks: Hacks for SSP Fundraising

Drug Checking Program Sample Budget

Previous Module

Module One: History of Drug Checking

Next Module

Module Three: Conceptualizing a Drug Checking Program

Cross-Contamination

Needs-Based Syringe Exchange

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Drug Users Union

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Community Based Drug Checking

Cross-reactivity

Memorandum of Understanding

Immunoassay Strips

Limit of Detection (LOD)

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR)

Local Drug Supply

Overdose Data to Action

Opioid Settlement Dollars

Adulterant

Colorimetric Analysis