A revolutionary handheld device that helps save lives by detecting dangerous synthetic drugs almost instantly has won its creators a prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize. The device is the brainchild of Professor Chris Pudney from the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath.
The portable technology developed by team ‘Harm Reduction’, led by Professor Pudney, can identify lethal synthetic substances – such as the street drug spice – within seconds, enabling police and prison officers to issue immediate warnings to protect vulnerable drug users from potentially fatal substances.
Devices are already being deployed across UK police forces and prisons, where staff use them to rapidly identify dangerous drugs and alert communities about life-threatening substances circulating locally.
Unlike conventional laboratory testing, which can take days or weeks to deliver results, the team's innovation provides instant results, allowing officers to issue real-time warnings when they discover particularly dangerous drugs that could kill users.
The tech has proven especially critical in detecting spice concealed in vapes. Criminals are exploiting this relatively new smoking method to distribute dangerous substances in schools and communities.
The device is also being used in prisons to protect inmates from dangerous substances that could prove fatal in confined environments where medical help may be delayed.
In honour of the team’s work, the Royal Society of Chemistry has selected the group to receive the Analytical Science Horizon Prize, also known as the George Stokes Prize.
Horizon Prizes celebrate exceptional teams making discoveries and innovations that advance the chemical sciences.
Previous RSC Prizes winners include everyone from Nobel Prize-winning scientists to educators, technicians and everyone in between, with the Royal Society of Chemistry keen to focus on the achievements of all innovators in the chemical sciences.
The new, portable technology can identify lethal synthetic substances within seconds.
Professor Pudney said: “This award is a recognition of what can be achieved when academics engage fully and meaningfully with stakeholders and are bold in their vision for what can be done together.
“As the landscape of drug use changes so rapidly, it feels like the need is to move to more immediate intelligence gathering. If we can use these kinds of rapid technologies to triage what we are worried about in the community, we can then have an essentially real-time intelligence picture that can support harm reduction messaging.”
Early warning system
The multi-institutional team, spanning the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester Metropolitan University, alongside Devon and Cornwall Police and international partners, has created what amounts to an early warning system for dangerous drugs.
The team's work addresses an emerging reality: synthetic drugs, some potentially lethal, are flooding communities, but traditional testing takes too long to provide the rapid intelligence needed to protect people.
The new technology has revealed alarming trends, including the widespread use of vapes to deliver synthetic drugs, particularly spice, in schools. By being portable and yielding instant results, the device enables rapid responses to protect young people from substances they may not realise are dangerous.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to expand detection capabilities as the drug market continues to evolve, essentially staying one step ahead of dangerous substances to protect public health.
Professor Duncan Craig, dean of the Faculty of Science said: “We are thrilled to hear of the RSC Horizon Award being won by Chris Pudney and his team. This is truly impactful research, based on cutting edge analytical science and engineering being applied to a pressing real-life problem. This device will make a real difference to many vulnerable individuals in the community, as well as helping schools, prisons and the police in reducing the harm caused by these highly dangerous drugs.”
Dr Rachael Andrews, post-doctoral research associate at Bath, said: “We are supporting schools to deal with the risk of drugs being consumed via e-cigarettes in schools. This is already a huge issue, and we can expect it to only grow.
“We see our work out in the real world making a difference to how people work with vulnerable groups but we hope also making a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Matthew Gardner, a PhD student from Bath working on synthetic drug detection, described a breakthrough moment: "For me, one of the best outcomes was the work with schools, where we used our technology to show the issue of drugs in e-cigarettes and then we were immediately able to provide that same technology to local police forces and councils to provide them with the means to track an emerging threat.”
Nick Burnett, drug expert with Devon and Cornwall Police, explained how the new device works on the streets: “It allows us to triage substances seized, especially where a user has had an adverse reaction from taking an illicit drug, and identify potential risks.
“This then provides live information to us and we can liaise with our local drug treatment agencies and provide live data and issue a drug warning, keeping the user cohort safe.
“From a law enforcement side, having this technology has allowed us to work collaboratively with our drug treatment service and drug users to test drugs. It has allowed us to build bridges so that we are not thinking just about prosecution, but also keeping the user demographic safe and preventing avoidable drug-related deaths.”
Dr Helen Pain, chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The chemical sciences cover a rich and diverse collection of disciplines, from fundamental understanding of materials and the living world to applications in medicine, sustainability, technology and more. By working together across borders and disciplines, chemists are finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
“Our prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge base, and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type, including those who contribute to the RSC’s work as volunteers. We celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself. “Their passion, dedication and brilliance are an inspiration. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”