A new drug testing contract issued by local councils to Teesside University will aid efforts to more quickly identify potentially lethal drugs circulating in communities. Earlier this year the university was awarded a contract running up until the end of next March which is being funded jointly by Hartlepool , Middlesbrough , Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton councils.

The local authorities are already responsible for a local drug information service which issues rapid alerts about adulterated illegal drugs and it is hoped the contract will help make the service more robust.

Drugs bought on the street are frequently bulked out with additives in a bid to enhance their potency and effects, or simply to increase profits for suppliers, but this can have adverse health consequences

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