Guidelines for Drug Checking Methodology

Harm reduction has become the focus of public health initiatives and therapeutic interventions in the management of drug addiction over the last 20 years. In the last decade these approaches have been extended to include recreational drug use. Most harm reduction initiatives are focused on providing in-formation to users about risks and ways to minimize them. The concept of providing illicit drug users with quality assessment of their chosen drug is one possible harm reduction intervention that, until recently, has received little attention. In response to well-publicized 'ecstasy'-related deaths, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in some European countries and the United States are offering a “pill testing service” for users (Winstock et al. 2002).

For many users Drug Checking is often the first point of contact with the social support system. Facilitating access for this target group through Drug Checking services legitimizes the costs associated with the analysis of drug specimens. Furthermore, by offering these consumers a specific service (substance analysis) it is easier to motivate them to participate in a consultation or a counselling session (Hunger-buehler et al. 2011). Drug Checking can be done in a drug counselling centre and also onsite e.g. at par-ties, raves, and festivals.

This document compiles a list of several techniques currently used in Drug Checking programs, its aims are:

• to help services that might be interested in implementing a Drug Checking Program.
• to provide complementary information to services that are actually proposing such a service.
• to standardize the methodologies developed in Europe, making the results comparable and service-able for extended application.

For these reasons, this document is focused on concrete technical information, including benefits and limitations, targeting the Drug Program managers or, directly, the Programs themselves.

If more specific information is needed, contact persons are mentioned for each technique.

The document will constitute part of a larger standard “Implementation of Drug Checking services standard”, which includes complementary information such as “History of Drug Checking”, “Legal frame-work”, and “Evaluation of Drug Checking services”.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.