Are my drugs really what I think they are? How strong are these new pills? Is this liquid GHB or GBL? How pure is my stuff? Why does this powder look differently than I’m used to? Does it contain anything dangerous?
In June 2023, free and anonymous drug checking launched in Berlin.
You can drop off a sample at one of 3 locations in the city at specific, weekly recurring times slots – without having to fear legal sanctions. A few days later, you can pick up your results by phone.
Unfortunately, the official website Drugchecking.berlin is only available in German so far. The list of recent problematic results may be of interest despite the language barrier. Here’s how the process works:
What you can get tested
Due to high demand, you can often only drop off one single sample per visit. Sometimes, there’s additional capacity.
- Powder/crystals: First, crush your substance into a fine powder and mix it well. Minimum amount required: “a pinch” (around 20–30mg).
- Liquids: Stir thoroughly. Minimum amount: “a few drops” (around 0.2ml)
- Tablets/pills, gel caps, blotters: Bring one piece (so that the total dose can be determined)
- Cannabis (only when you suspect synthetic cannabinoids – THC won’t be measured): Bring 0.1g
Not accepted:
- Plant matter, including psychoactive mushrooms and cannabis (except when treatment with synthetic cannabinoids is suspected)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food and beverages (including alcoholic or caffeinated beverages)
- Anabolic steroids, poppers and potency drugs
What to expect at drop-off
No appointment is required. However, only a limited number of test slots are distributed at the specified drop-off time. We recommend arriving a bit early. Depending on which slot you get there may be some waiting time involved (or you may be asked to return a bit later). The staff also speak English.
First, you’ll create an anonymous code to identify yourself with. You’ll be asked to voluntarily answer a few questions, including for your age (must be 18 or over), sex, nationality, zip code and substance use habits. They’ll also ask what the substance you’re dropping off was labeled as, what kind of source you got it from (e.g. friends, dealer, internet) and how much you paid.
If you’d like, you could also use this opportunity to bring up any further questions or concerns you may have around your substance use. The counselors have an accepting and unbiased attitude towards drugs. They are familiar with queer lifestyles – especially at Schwulenberatung Berlin.
You do not run any additional legal risks by using this service. This is guaranteed by an agreement in place between the police, the public prosecutor’s office, the municipal department of health and the participating organizations. Users won’t be targeted by law enforcement in the vicinity of the project sites.
Your results
Results usually take a few days – only analyzing GHB/GBL or synthetic cannabinoids might take a bit longer. You can pick up your results on the phone or in person.
For the phone call, find a quiet, private spot and have pen and paper ready for notes. To fully protect your anonymity, you can suppress Caller ID by dialing #31# right before the number of the hotline.
Your results will cover:
- Active substances found – this may also include psychoactive adulterants like caffeine
- Purity – proportion of each active substance
- Whether dangerous ingredients or unknown substances were detected
Note for pros: Enantiomers are not differentiated – e.g. R- and S-Ketamine can’t be told apart. Non-psychoactive bulking agents (e.g. lactose) are not separately identified.
Remember that even drug checking has its limits:
- The analysis may fail to identify completely novel substances.
- A singular result is no guarantee for the future: Your next delivery from the same source might contain different ingredients. Other pills with the same design could also have a different composition.
In the end, the responsibility for your substance use remains with you.
Stay safe!