Get Support & Advice
Release provides a free, confidential, and non-judgemental national information and advice service on drugs and drug laws. Our specialist legal and drug teams are here to help — not to judge.
What We Can Help With
Our advice service is operated by qualified lawyers and drug professionals. We do not use automated menus or generic FAQs: each query is handled with individual care based on your specific situation.
Drugs Information & Harm Reduction
- Drug effects, interactions, and overdose risk reduction
- Accessing naloxone (training and take-home supply)
- Matters involving drug dependency and treatment choices (prescribing, maintenance, detox, and abstinence)
- Needle and syringe programmes and blood-borne virus support
Legal Advice & Your Rights
- Police stop and search powers and arrest procedures
- Charges involving drug possession, intent to supply, or cannabis cultivation
- Travelling abroad with prescribed controlled medication
- Workplace drug testing and employment rights
- Criminal records, cautions, and disclosure requirements
If you are not sure whether your question is a drug or legal matter, don’t worry — our drug and legal specialists work side-by-side to ensure you get full, coordinated support.
Send a Confidential Message
You can contact our team anytime by filling out the form below. Messages are reviewed by our specialists and responded to within 3–5 working days. You can also email us directly at ask@release.org.uk.
Drug Checking & Substance Testing
If you want to check the contents of a substance, several harm reduction testing services and tools are available:
In-Person Drop-In: The Loop
The Loop provides free, confidential, regular community drug checking drop-in services in various parts of the country, where you can have substances tested by professional chemists and receive tailored harm reduction consultations.
Lab Postal Testing: WEDINOS
You can submit an anonymous substance sample by post to the WEDINOS Project for laboratory analysis. Results are published online anonymously under your sample reference number.
Testing strips and reagent kits at Release’s Hub
Free at-home testing strips (testing for drugs such as nitazenes, fentanyl, xylazine, and benzodiazepines) as well as multi-substance reagent test kits are available for in-person collection at Release’s Harm Reduction Hub in Bethnal Green.
Buy DIY Reagent Kits: Reagent Tests UK
If you want to purchase chemical reagent testing liquids or additional rapid testing strips to keep at home, you can buy them directly online from Reagent Tests UK.
Visit Our Harm Reduction Hub (London Drop-In)
Based in Cambridge Heath / Bethnal Green, our community drop-in centre provides free, confidential harm reduction equipment, supplies, and signposting without appointments or assessments.
Address: 395 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9RA
Drop-In Hours: Monday to Thursday (2:00pm – 5:00pm) & Saturday (4:00pm – 7:00pm). View the Hub page for our full calendar as we have additional ad-hoc opening hours.
- Take-home naloxone (injectable & nasal spray) and overdose response training
- Drug checking strips (nitazenes, fentanyl, xylazine) and reagent test kits
- Sterile needles, syringes, and safer consumption supplies
- Free safer sex supplies (condoms and lubricant)
- Public Living Room with free tea and coffee, warming space, and phone charging
- Signposting to health, GP registration, and legal advice referrals