Ongoing projects

Interviewstudie „Risikoreduktion beim Substanzkonsum“

Together with MedUni Vienna, we are conducting an interview study with people about their substance use and the accessibility of drug checking services. If you are interested in participating, find more information here: → Interview study

TEDI (Trans-European Drug Information) project

TEDI is a network of European harm-reduction orientated drug checking facilities that share their expertise and analysis data for the purpose of comprehensive monitoring. To this end, a joint database has been developed in which the data is shared and stored and which enables it to be analysed. The TEDI project was funded by the European Commission from 2011 to 2013. Thanks to the cooperation with the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction), the TEDI network has been building a new database since 2017. The extent to which data is (or can be) shared varies between the participating organisations. www.tedinetwork.org

Publications in connection with the project:

• TEDI (2024). Drug Checking services as an answer to shifting drug markets - The Context Driving the Need for Drug Checking Services (DCS)
• TEDI (2022). TEDI's methodological guidelines
• Vrolijk, R. Q., Measham, F., Quesada, A., Luf, A., Schori, D., Radley, S.,Acreman, D., Smith, J., Verdenik, M., Martins, D., Cunha, M., Paulos, C.J., Fineschi, P., Gerace, E., Karden, A., Koning, R., Smigt-Rigter, L., & Ventura, M. (2022). Size matters: comparing the MDMA content a nd weight of ecstasy tablets submitted to European drug checking services in 2012-2021. Drugs, Habits and Social Policy, 23(3), 207-219.
• Oomen, P. E., Schori, D., Tögel-Lins, K., Acreman, D., Chenorhokian, S., Luf, A., Karden, A., Paulos, C., Fornero, E., Gerace, E., Koning, R.P.J., Galindo, L., Smit-Rigter, L. A., Measham, F. & Ventura, M. (2022). Cannabis adulterated with the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-4en-PINACA and the role of European drug checking services. International Journal of Drug Policy, 100, 103493.
• Giné, C. V., Vilamala, M. V., Measham, F., Brunt, T. M., Bücheli, A., Paulos, C., Valente, H., Martins, D., Libois, B., Tögel-Lins, K., Jones, G., Karden, A. & Barrett, M. (2017). The utility of drug checking services as monitoring tools and more: A response to Pirona et al. International Journal of Drug Policy, 45, 46-47.
• Brunt, T. M., Nagy, C., Bücheli, A., Martins, D., Ugarte, M., Beduwe, C., & Ventura Vilamala, M. (2017). Drug testing in Europe: monitoring results of the Trans European Drug Information (TEDI) project. Drug testing and analysis, 9(2), 188-198.

NEWNet (Nightlife Empowerment and Wellbeing)

NEWNet is a European network of organisations and NGOs active in health promotion, prevention and nightlife, nightlife professionals, local authorities, medical/therapeutic professionals and researchers. The NEW Net emerged from the Nightlife Empowerment and Well-being Implementation Project (2011-2013). www.safernightlife.org

East-West co-operation

Since the beginning of 2017, there has been a long-term "East-West" research cooperation between checkit! and the Drug work Z6 in Innsbruck. checkit! and Drug work Z6 offer analysis-based counselling in eastern and western Austria. The aim of the cooperation is to research the use and structures of services based on previous data, to exchange expertise at a national level, to ensure quality, to further develop the services and to increase the comparability of the data.

Publications as part of the co-operation:

Trends & Info 2024: Cocaine

Trends & Info 2023: XTC Punisher

LSD Info 2022: Incorrect dose information for LSD trips: results of a survey

Trends & info 2021: Extender in cocaine; counterfeit XANAX tablets

Trends & info 2020

COVID-19 survey (2020): Results of the survey

Completed projects

EU project: SCANNER
Investigating the development and consequences of the use of new psychoactive substances in the face of a constantly changing (online) drug market.
In the last decade, an increasing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) have been identified in Europe, for which there is often little information on consumption, consumption patterns and profiles. In addition, laboratory analysis is often difficult because, for example, reference material or chemical spectra are not available.
As part of this project, the extent to which information on the substance identity of NPS offered online corresponds to the actual and proven substance identity will be analysed. Reference analysis methods will be developed and validated and the substances will be analysed by the participating laboratories in a round robin test. In addition, heroin samples from across the EU will be analysed to determine the extent to which fentanyl has penetrated the European heroin market.
In collaboration with all participating drug checking organisations, a comprehensive review of their practices and analytical methods will be carried out, resulting in a report with recommendations and guidelines for governments or authorities planning to introduce drug checking to improve public health safety in relation to drugs in the EU in the future.

Publications in connection with the project:
Balcaen, M., Ventura, M., Gil, C., Luf, A., Martins, D., Cunha, M., Tögel-Lins, K., Wolf, D., Blanckaert, P., & Deconinck, E. (2023). Challenges in drug surveillance: strengthening the analysis of new psychoactive substances by harmonising drug checking services in proficiency testing. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(5), 4628.

EU project: NEWIP - Nightlife Empowerment & Well-being Implementation Project (2011-2013)
You can find more information about this EU project at: www.safernightlife.org

EU project: Democracy, Cities & Drugs I & II (2005-2011)
You can find more information about this EU project at: www.democitydrug.org

EU project: Effects of pill-testing programmes on the consumption behaviour and risk awareness of ecstasy users
checkit! took part in a study on the effectiveness of secondary prevention measures together with Drobs Hannover and Jellinek Amsterdam in 2001/2002. The purpose of the study was to empirically test the drug policy approach of harm minimisation and risk reduction for the target group of synthetic drug users. A summary of the results can be found here.

EU Project: Pill-Testing Interventions in the EU
On behalf of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EBBD) checkit! a compilation of all European projects that offer drug checking and information or plan to include these services in their programme. To this end, we compiled a comprehensive questionnaire and sent it to all European organisations known to us. Representatives of these organisations were invited to Vienna to discuss possibilities for closer cooperation. Further information can be found here.

EU project: SecuCities
In autumn 1999 and spring 2000 checkit! participated in the SecuCities-Drugs project. The aim of this EU project - in which ten different European capitals took part - was a transnational exchange of experience: what can those responsible for major events (e.g. raves, clubs, Love Parades), i.e. organisers, security staff, drug information projects, doctors, paramedics, law enforcement and others, do to make these events safer for visitors. As part of this project, a two-day meeting was also held in Vienna with representatives from the areas listed above.