Project summary

The last decade increasing amounts of NPS have been identified in Europe. These NPS are chemically and toxicologically similar to classic illicit drugs but evade legislation by structural alterations. Little information is available regarding NPS consumption, user patterns or profiles. Additionally, laboratory analysis of NPS is difficult because reference material supply is poor or because chemical spectra are not readily available.

The most frequently used response to tackle the problem is a legislative change. However, little information is available regarding the influence of legislation on the identity of NPS offered for sale online and their quality and purchase methods. Identifying which NPS offered for sale using continuous web monitoring, both before and after a change in legislation will yield valuable information on the effect of legislation on identity and price of NPS available online. By purchasing and subsequently analysing NPS using analytical chemistry we will establish to what extent the identity of NPS available online matches the presumed identity as advertised by the vendor.

Reference analysis methods will be developed and validated. They will also participate in extensive and continuous ring- and proficiency testing, and costly analysis reference materials for NPS will be shared amongst the participants. The project will harmonise drug checking operating procedures throughout Europe and improve general analysis result quality.

Obtained NPS data will also be shared with the EU EMCDDA REITOX network using the recently developed long-term online platform European Database on New Drugs (EDND2), thereby enhancing the EMCDDA Early Warning System and improving the NPS monitor system.

By collecting and analysing heroin samples obtained from users across the EU we will establish to what extent the fentanyl problem has penetrated the European heroin market. Investigating the feasibility of cheap fentanyl test kits in a harm reduction context can help users avoid harm or even death. An exhaustive review of the drug checking services in Europe will be performed, resulting in a set of recommendations & guidelines for governments wishing to introduce drug checking.

A specific Work Package will support civil society organisations to collect prevalence data on NPS use, to exchange methods for epidemiologic research on NPS and to standardise ways of monitoring NPS use. Involving existing EU-wide civil society networks in this project will raise awareness in these organisation about the importance of building the necessary skills and capacity not only for reliable data collection across Europe but also for meeting the challenges posed by the NPS phenomena in their interventions in general.