Drug Checking: Monitoring the Contents of New Synthetic Drugs

Abstract

The term “drug checking” is defined here as the provision of secondary prevention services in the field. Specifically, ecstasy and other new synthetic drugs are frequently being used at raves (dance parties with electronic music), and now these substances may be analyzed onsite to determine their content. Drug checking is also useful for the early detection of drug consuming trends through systematic monitoring. Whereas in neighboring European states, drug checking and monitoring is a growing trend, in Germany the realization of such innovative field methods for prevention and research cannot take place because of legal prohibitions.