Demand for Berlin drug check exceeds capacity
The demand for free drug tests is exceeding the capacity of the pilot project in Berlin. Since the start of drug checking at the beginning of June, a total of 797 samples have been tested, as the Senate Department for Health informed the German Press Agency on request. Up to 39 samples were taken every week. According to the Senate Department, around 380 potential users had to be rejected by August alone.
For the first time, the project also analyzed cannabis contaminated with artificial cannabinoids. These have a stronger effect when consumed than the plant-based version. They can lead to intoxication and be life-threatening.
To date, several dozen warnings for drugs that have already been analyzed are listed on the project website. The drugs frequently analyzed include ecstasy, pure amphetamine, amphetamine-caffeine mixtures (speed) as well as mephedrone, cocaine, ketamine and LSD. The project issues a warning for the substances tested in an average of 43 percent of the samples.
According to the information provided, the project is looking for a solution to meet the high demand. This is because drugs that are not tested pose particular dangers. The consumption of unanalyzed substances, which may be mislabeled, overdosed or contaminated, can lead to overdoses and poisoning. This is according to Tibor Harrach, pharmaceutical coordinator of the drug checking project. Only a drug check enables informed and considered consumption.
The offer to analyze substances is aimed at addicts who use drugs on a daily basis, for example, but also at partygoers who take drugs at the weekend. The substances are analyzed in a neutral laboratory via the State Institute for Forensic and Social Medicine.
So far, 582 people have taken advantage of drug checking, including 431 males, 126 females and 25 diverse people. The age group of 30 to 39-year-olds was most strongly represented, followed by 18 to 29-year-olds.
The high demand for drug checks is straining the resources of the Health department's pilot project in Berlin, leading to many potential users being turned away. This recent surge in demand has even led to the analysis of cannabis contaminated with synthetic cannabinoids, which can be more harmful than natural cannabis and can result in intoxication or even be fatal.
Source: www.dpa.com
