Visit of a Serbian delegation to NGO ‘Check it!’

The Ministry of Health of Serbia (MoH) requested the EMCDDA to support a study visit to ‘Check it!’, an Austrian NGO (funded by the Municipality of Vienna), which in partnership with the University toxicology laboratory (located in the General University Hospital of Vienna) provides on-site drug testing for synthetic stimulants and designer drugs at various music festivals.

The overall aim of this programme is to provide people who may consider taking an illicit psychoactive substance with objective information on the content and the potential risks of use. The Ministry of Health of Serbia requested the visit to explore the possibility for setting up a similar programme in Zaječar, where one of the largest music festivals in the region is held. The delegation consisted of a representative of the MoH, the head of the reference laboratory for the psychoactive substances of the University and the NGO Timok Youth Centre.

The participants visited the ‘Check-it!’ base and had an opportunity to participate in and observe the implementation of the programme at a music festival in Vienna.