WEDINOS

{{Short description|Public health laboratory in Wales, United Kingdom}}

WEDINOS (an acronym for Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances) is a public health laboratory in Cardiff, Wales devoted to drug checking and epidemiological surveillance of recreational drugs and prescription drugs obtained from unsanctioned sources. It is the only fixed-site facility in the United Kingdom devoted to this task.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Ffion |date=2024-02-08 |title=Inside tiny building where thousands of people send illegal drugs |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/inside-tiny-building-wales-thousands-28595883 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=Deadly nitazene drugs found in fake medicines |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2520kvl1wo |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} It was established in 2013, and is funded by Public Health Wales.{{Cite news |date=2014-01-31 |title=Welsh government funds drug testing service for public |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-25951290 |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Although based and funded in Wales, WEDINOS analyzes samples sent from anywhere in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Philtre, April 2023 – March 2024 |url=https://phw.nhs.wales/publications/publications1/wedinos-philtre-april-2023-march-2024/ |website=phw.nhs.wales}}

WEDINOS results show high levels of mis-labeling and adulteration of contributed samples of drugs.{{Cite web |title=WEDINOS - Reports & Publications |url=https://www.wedinos.org/reports-publications |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.wedinos.org}} {{As of|2025}}, WEDINOS data showed that 43% of supposed cannabis samples contained no plant-derived materials, with 38% containing noxious substances.{{Cite web |last=Vaughan |first=Henry |last2=Cheshire |first2=Tom |last3=Doak |first3=Sam |date=13 May 2025 |title=The online drug trade behind QR code stickers plastered on streets across the UK |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-online-drug-trade-behind-qr-code-stickers-plastered-on-streets-across-the-uk-13365660 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Sky News |language=en}}