Lessons learned through the SCANNER project

Collaboration between EU CSO, national and international stakeholders is key. 

The SCANNER project has proven the following values of combining several initiatives and why collaboration is key, when it comes to new psychoactive substances:

• Repetition of proficiency testing combined with research and purchases on Clear and Deep web markets, will support laboratories in tailoring their analysis, give the ability to continuously monitor the market and remain ever vigilant towards the ever-increasing predominance of NPS.
• The power of CSO’s: These projects shows that data collection on substance use patterns can be improved between CSO. CSO monitoring on NPS deepens the existing information about these new molecules. Data sharing between the national focal points, EMCDDA and CSO could be improved. It should be evaluated and discussed how data can be monitored in a permanent way and how these figures can be shared regularly and rapidly, even permanently
• CSO’s and particularly DCS are able to give up-to-date information on NPS, directly coming from PWUD. To illustrate we take the example of DCS, were substances directly derived from people who use drugs (PWUD) are analysed within hours to days of submission. This gives the opportunity to detect unwitting consumption, were PWUD are not aware of possible adulteration of their sample.
• Collaboration between different harm reduction organisations, such as CSO’s and DCS, could help defining how to integrate self-testing interventions, such as fentanyl test strips, inside the broader package of harm reduction interventions and support.

If you would like to access the general report, please contact margot.balcaen@sciensano.be.