New paths in the fight against drugs: LKA presents Project Adebar project

New paths in the fight against drugs: LKA presents Project Adebar project

On June 27, 2024, an important new law, the "new psychoactive substances law" (NPSG), was put into force in Germany. This change brings a significant expansion of the legal framework to combat and analyze new psychoactive substances, which has become an increasingly urgent topic, especially in recent years. The government relies on increased cooperation between various authorities and research institutions to meet the new challenges in the drug market.

A central element of this cooperation is the nationwide ADEBAR project, which deals with the analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS). This project has undergone two successful phases in the past and is now starting a new round with Network Adebar. The new project is supported by the European Union and receives funding of around 620,000 euros. The implementation takes place through close cooperation between the state criminal offices of seven federal states, the Federal Criminal Police Office, the General Customs Directorate and leading universities, including Freiburg, Mainz and Münster.

important goals of the project

The main objectives of Network Adebar are diverse. The focus is on the continuous survey of analytical data of psychoactive substances that appear on the drug market. In addition, an international database is to be developed that enables clear identification of these substances. This is of great importance, since new psychoactive substances in particular are often difficult to classify and are therefore regulated. Another central point is the provision of reference materials for police and customs laboratories, which is intended to significantly improve the forensic analysis.

In order to present the project and its goals in more detail, the State Criminal Police Office invites you to a press conference on August 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. In this meeting, Dr. Folker Westphal, the scientific director of the project, and Dr. Sebastian Hamer, a project employee, explain the focus and the structure of the Adebar network in detail. The press conference will take place in the LKA's criminal engineering institute in Kiel, and participation will be required in advance by registering until August 21, 2024.

The analysis of new psychoactive substances is not an easy undertaking. These fabrics constantly develop and often only have a short life cycle on the market. This requires a quick and precise reaction from the authorities. Therefore, analytical databases play a crucial role because they enable experts to react faster to the challenges of current drug scenes and to combat them more effectively.

technological progress and their challenges

The activities as part of the Adebar project are characterized by technological progress. New analysis methods and improved cooperation between the authorities are decisive here. This leads to an efficient structure that enables it to react quickly and comprehensively to new developments in terms of psychoactive drugs. The exchange and storage of sufficient data are indispensable in order to grasp and cope with the growing complexity of the drug situation in Germany and beyond

As an essential add-on, the laboratory of the subject area for toxicology also offers the opportunity to take image recordings after the press conference. The LKA thus shows transparency and interest in reporting on the challenges in this sensitive area.

European funding and the support of the various institutions show how serious efforts are to address the problem of the new psychoactive substances. The effectiveness of these measures will be shown in the coming years and could possibly make a significant contribution to the safety and health of the population.

background information on new psychoactive substances

The spread of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has increased significantly in recent years, which is also reflected in the legal framework. These substances, which often occur in the form of designer drugs, are often a reaction to existing drug bans. Mixtures of active ingredients that are not explicitly listed in the Narcotics Act enable dealers to avoid existing laws. The NPSG was introduced to counteract such developments and to adapt the legal framework to combat these drugs to the constantly changing market situation. A central aspect of the law is the increase in transparency in the data situation to NPS to support authorities and research institutions in their work

The challenges related to NPS are complex. The identification of these substances is complex due to their constantly changing chemical structures. This requires continuous adjustments in the analysis methods. In addition, the health risks associated with the use of NPS are often not sufficiently researched, which makes emergency measures and preventive strategies difficult.

Statistical data for the distribution of NPS

According to the report of the European Observatory for Drugs and Drugs Addation (EMCDDA) from 2022, there was an increase in reports on NPS in Europe. In 2021, countries within the EU registered a total of 113 new psychoactive substances, which is an increase of 15 % compared to the previous year. These substances are often available in the form of synthetic cannabinoids and new stimulants, which are usually sold online.

The dangers of consumption of these substances are serious. A survey among NPS consumers shows that over 30 % have experienced health problems due to drug use at least once in their lives. In addition, it remains unclear how psychological or physical impairments resulting from consumption influence social cohesion and public health in the long term. The continuous monitoring of these trends is essential for the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

collaboration between the authorities and science

The cooperation between various state criminal offices, the Federal Criminal Police Office and several universities, which is funded as part of the Network Adebar project, shows the need for interdisciplinary approaches to combat the problem of new psychoactive substances. The exchange of data and expertise is to be built up a comprehensive database to identify the various NPs.

dr. Folker Westphal, the scientific director of the project, emphasizes the importance of the cooperation: "Only through close cooperation between science and the police can we successfully manage the challenges that NPS have. The data we collect will be valuable in order to design both practical measures and future research projects." Such initiatives are crucial for the development of trend -setting strategies in dealing with the constantly changing challenges in the drug market.