MANDRAKE

💥BREAKING!💥 25 Jun 25 Our founders @sutcliffeob & @andyc1864 are honoured to be co-awarded the RSC Analytical Science Horizon Prize for the collaborative project, led by @CRPudney, on the application of portable technologies for drug detection, policing & harm reduction.

💥NEW RESEARCH PAPER💥 Our 100th study has just been published in Drug Testing & Analysis The collab. study led by Caroline Copeland, @CRPudney & the late Pete Sunderland focuses on #bromazolam quantification & analysis of post-mortem cases via NPSUM doi.org/10.1002/dta.70…

💥BREAKING!💥 14 Mar 2026 The team has reached a significant milestone with the publication of our 100th peer-reviewed study! Extremely proud of every researcher, collaborator & funder involved in reaching this milestone! Thank you all! Here's to the science & the next 💯 😀

💥NEW RESEARCH PAPER💥 The team’s paper on the development & comparison of low- & high-field #quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (#qNMR) & #GCMS approaches to the analysis of bulk #cocaine samples seized by law enforcement is online (free) now👇 sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

After some online unprofessional conduct - the team has decided to come out fighting! We won’t be defeated by individuals or organisations who feel threatened by our work in the sector & our success. Bullying & harassment in any form is not tolerated and will be called out!

💥NEW RESEARCH PAPER💥 Our international collaboration w/ @Shimadzu & the Forensic Programme @penn_state on the separation and quantification of novel synthetic regioisomeric #fentanyls in clinical extracts by high pH reverse-phase LC-MS/MS is online: doi.org/10.1016/j.forc…

💥BREAKING!💥 22 Dec 2025 #Spice (#SCRAs, synthetic cannabinoids) “Primer”, by @sutcliffeob & @MMUOutofit, first published in @ConversationUK in 2016, is the THIRD most read article published by @ManMetUni on the site and has just received >975,000 reads! theconversation.com/what-is-spice-…

A warning has been issued by @MANDRAKE_LAB after traces of medetomidine have been found in ketamine circulating Manchester, which "could prove fatal" if taken with the drug mixmag.net/read/warning-i…

Concerned individuals have asked us provide a representative image of samples that have tested positive. Remembers samples can vary in physical appearance. ✅ Testing strips are available online ✅ If unwell please seek medical attention.

Working with local partners a number of samples have been tested by the team We can confirm that though ketamine was detected, the levels of medetomidine present varied significantly across the samples Testing strips are available online If unwell please seek medical attention

⚠️WARNING⚠️ 19 Nov 2025 Multiple samples of ketamine circulating in #Manchester have been confirmed, by our lab, to be contaminated with medetomidine. The GM Drugs Early Warning System has subsequently issued the following warning. If unwell please seek medical attention.

A warning has been issued by @MANDRAKE_LAB about the safety of both powder and pill-form MDMA currently in circulation around Manchester following the deaths of two women mixmag.net/read/mdma-warn…

These drugs are being detected in samples tested by @MANDRAKE_LAB & FSPs from ppl who have tragically died in Greater Manchester. #Naloxone an antidote for opioid overdose will work on nitazenes & fentanyls, but may not work on xylazine. If unwell please seek medical attention.

⚠️WARNING⚠️ 30 Oct 2025 With ongoing concerns over #heroin #adulteration and recent detection of synthetic opioids including #fentanyls & #nitazenes - the GM Drugs Early Warning System has issued the following warning. If unwell please seek medical attention.

💥BREAKING!💥29 Oct 2025 The lab doesn’t take its #harmreduction & #safeguarding responsibilities to our local communities lightly Our dedicated scientists have started tackling this first drop of samples from the NTE All pertinent data/results will be shared. Follow for info.

Working with local partners/stakeholders a number of samples of #MDMA crystal/powder have been tested by the team We can confirm that no adulterants or other drugs were detected, however, the purity varied significantly across the samples If unwell please seek medical attention

⚠️WARNING⚠️ 23 Oct 2025 With two separate, tragic deaths in #Manchester last week, both involving young women and both believed to have taken #MDMA powder/crystals @greatermcr have issued this alert via the GM Drugs Early Warning System. If unwell please seek medical attention.

💥BREAKING!💥 30 Sep 2025 On the 15th October, our Director, @sutcliffeob, will be speaking at the Independent Drug Expert Alliance (IDEA) Conference about MANDRAKE’s holistic and integrated approach to harm reduction.

Many congratulations to our Director, @sutcliffeob and Professor Rob Ralphs @MMUOutofit on their Research Excellence Award and recognition for their impactful contribution to harm reduction, drug policy and collaborative working with law enforcement. Well done! #McrMetProud

💥BREAKING!💥 26 Aug 2025 Rob Ralphs @MMUOutofit and my #Spice (#SCRAs, synthetic cannabinoids) “Primer”, first published in @ConversationUK in 2016, is the THIRD most read article published by @ManMetUni on the site and has just received >950,000 reads! theconversation.com/what-is-spice-…

⚠️CAUTION!⚠️ 23 Aug 2025 Back-of-house substance testing by @MANDRAKE_LAB has found multiple samples of synthetic #cathinone 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) circulating at Manchester Pride. If unwell please seek medical attention.