Drug Checking

  • Partnership
    • The Trans European Drug Information (TEDI) workgroup is managed by ABD (www.abd-ong.org). ABD is a spanish NGO declared of public utility, working since the 80s mainly in the areas of drugs, AIDS, gender equality, community development, mediation, social inclusion, etc. ABD has 4 headquarters (Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia and the Balearic Islands), 800 professionals, 278 volunteers, 45 different services attending around 70.000 persons per year and contacting more than 500.000 persons per year through prevention programs.

      Energy Control is ABD´s drug prevention program, which has, since 1997, developed and implemented risk-reduction strategies in the nightlife sector. This includes peer community group interventions, training for nightlife and health professionals, the publication and promotion of prevention materials, new media tools and guidelines and the development of Drug Checking programs.

      The TEDI Steering Committee includes representatives of:Energy Control, Techno Plus, Jellinek, Modus Vivendi, Ailaket!, Check In, ChEck iT!, Zurich´s Drug Checking services, DIMS.
  • Context
    • The TEDI Project emerged from the mutual interests of several risk reduction groups that use Drug Checking as a method for making contacts with drug users. In Europe, the latest trends and newest drugs spread rapidly from one country to another, while the mobility of recent generations of partygoers has never been greater.

      TEDI noticed that, in recent years, similar drug warnings were being issued simultaneously in a number of different European countries. This lack of coordination leads to inefficiency, which can only be sufficiently addressed if nations begin sharing one another’s Drug Checking data. This will mean that nations will be able to more effectively address the issue of rapid detection of the dissemination of dangerous substances and the introduction of new drugs into Europe.  
  • Objectives
    • T.E.D.I. (Trans European Drug Information) is a European database system that collects, monitors and analyses the evolution of the various European drug scenes and reports on them on a regular basis.

      The aim of this monitoring and information system is to help improve public health and intervention programs. It serves as an early warning system and a tool for monitoring the evolution of drug markets in Europe. Moreover, it has become an essential knowledgebase in the area of recreational drug use. 

      Besides its Drug Checking information function, TEDI project also focuses on:
      1) standardising the various processes related to Drug Checking;
      2) making recommendations to help improve first-line project field interventions; and
      3) monitoring the evolution of new substances and new trends throughout Europe.
  • Methodology and Time table
    • 2011 
      January: First TEDI steering committee
      October: Factsheet on Drug Checking guideline

      2012
      January: Second TEDI steering committee
      February: TEDI Database & TEDI website on line
      March: First TEDI Newsletter
      April: Standards for analysis guideline
      May: Training for the volunteers of the field intervention with Drug Checking
      June: First report on drug trendsJuly: Second TEDI Newsletter
      August: Field intervention with Drug Checking
      November: Third TEDI Newsletter
      December: Second report on drug trends

      2013
      January: Third Steering Committee
      April: Fourth TEDI Newsletter
      May: Training session focused on counselling interventions related to Drug Checking
      June: Third report on drug trends
      July: Fifth TEDI Newsletter
      September: Counselling related to Drug Checking guideline
      October: Sixth TEDI Newsletter
      December: Fourth report on drug trends

      Products that will be produced in the WP:
      - A Drug Checking database 
      - Fourth bi-annual trend reports 
      - An electronic guideline with standards on the different Drug Checking methods 
      - An electronic guideline with counselling related to Drug Checking
  • Participants info
    • Possibilities for new partners to join:

      The TEDI database workgroup is open to projects that are developing a drug checking programme.

      Training session and information will be proposed to risk/harm reduction groups that are working on the field and are not doing drug checking. In 2012 and 2013, the project will invite and assume the travel and accommodation costs for various participants. More participants can join the trainings assuming their own accommodation and travel expenses. Partners from European Eastern Countries will have the priority to the free access to the trainings. 10 new groups maximum per year will be accepted.

      Furthermore, all Safer Nightlife organisations interested will have the possibility to receive the TEDI Newsletter. If you are interested in the project and want regular updates, contact us and we will email you our Newsletter.
  • Interesting documents