Over 60,000 people died in the US last year from overdosing on illicit drugs.  In addition to opioid overdoses, clusters of deaths are caused by  "designer drugs" that have never undergone testing in humans, or less toxic drugs spiked with dangerous opioids. The idPAD is a paper analytical device that runs 12 chemical color tests simultaneously on a sample of a street drug in under 4 minutes. All of the reagents are stored in dry form on the idPAD; the user only needs to smear the drug across the paper and dip the bottom into water to activate the tests. Some of the color tests detect active ingredients such as meth or heroin, and others detect common cutting agents.  The test results form a “color bar code” that can be read by a cell phone app or by eye.  How could a device like this help to track the supply chain for illicit drugs and prevent overdose deaths?

What if you could identify street drugs with a paper test card?

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.