About T.E.D.

T.E.D. stands for Test Every Drug, but he represents much more than a name. T.E.D. is the national spokesperson for the Test Every Drug movement — a life-saving public safety initiative built around a simple but powerful action: test unknown substances before trusting them.

For generations, America has relied on memorable public safety figures to help change behavior and save lives. Characters like Smokey Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, Hardhat Harry, D.A.R.E. Lion, and Woodsy Owl, became trusted voices for safety across the country. Their messages were simple, repeatable, and powerful enough to shape national habits.

T.E.D. was created to bring that same kind of clear, memorable safety message to the modern drug poisoning crisis.

Today’s drug supply is more unpredictable and dangerous than at any time in history. Substances that appear familiar may contain powerful synthetic compounds that people never intended to take. Many people who die from drug poisonings did not set out to take a deadly substance — they simply had no way to know what was actually inside it.

T.E.D. exists to change that.

As the public voice of the Test Every Drug campaign, T.E.D. promotes a simple habit that can prevent tragedies: check first. His message is designed to reach communities across the country — including universities, hospitals, public health organizations, corrections systems, law enforcement agencies, and everyday individuals trying to protect themselves or their friends.

The goal of T.E.D. is not to judge people. The safest choice will always be not to use drugs at all, but the reality is that many people still do. When that happens, knowledge and awareness can save lives.

By turning the phrase Test Every Drug into a recognizable name, a memorable character, and a repeatable action, T.E.D. transforms an important safety step into a cultural habit people can remember in critical moments.

Before trusting something… ask Ted.

Because when it comes to today’s drug supply, one simple action can make the difference between life and death. 

NO TED = DEAD.

The Test Every Drug National Action Campaign exists to save lives by confronting the modern drug poisoning crisis with a simple but powerful message: Test Every Drug.

Today’s illicit drug supply is more unpredictable and dangerous than at any time in history. Substances that appear familiar may contain highly potent synthetic opioids, tranquilizers, or other deadly compounds that users never intended to take. These hidden ingredients are responsible for tens of thousands of preventable deaths each year.

Our mission is to promote a culture of awareness, responsibility, and prevention by encouraging individuals, communities, institutions, and public safety agencies to test unknown substances before they are used or consumed.

The safest choice is always not to use drugs at all. But when that is not the reality, testing can mean the difference between life and death.

Through public education, national awareness campaigns, partnerships with law enforcement and public health organizations, and the expansion of accessible testing technology, the Test Every Drug movement seeks to prevent accidental poisonings and empower people with the information needed to make safer decisions.

One test can save a life.

America is facing the deadliest drug poisoning crisis in its history. The illicit drug supply has changed dramatically over the past decade, with powerful synthetic substances appearing in pills, powders, and other drugs without warning. Many individuals who suffer fatal poisonings never intended to take the substances that ultimately caused their death.

The Test Every Drug National Action Campaign was created to address this new reality.

The campaign is a nationwide public awareness initiative focused on prevention, education, and harm-reduction strategies designed to reduce accidental drug poisonings. Through large-scale public messaging, partnerships with public safety agencies, universities, healthcare systems, and community organizations, the campaign promotes one critical habit:

Test unknown substances before they are used.

Public awareness efforts include billboards, transit advertising, digital media campaigns, educational outreach, and community engagement programs designed to reach individuals, families, and communities across the country.

The campaign also works alongside law enforcement, corrections systems, healthcare professionals, universities, and public health leaders to increase awareness about the dangers of the modern drug supply and the importance of detection tools that can identify dangerous substances before exposure occurs.

At the center of the campaign is a simple truth:

Knowledge saves lives.

When people understand the risks and have the tools to identify dangerous substances, tragedies can be prevented.

The message is simple. Test Every Drug.