Drug checking services: an essential tool for risk and harm reduction

Drug checking services are risk and harm reduction initiatives that provide users with objective
information on the composition of the drugs they are going to take. These services also provide
personalized advice meaning they are able to manage their consumption in order to avoid or
minimize risks. Thanks to the information obtained through these services, it is possible to
monitor drug markets at different levels and foster rapid responses to emerging phenomena.
The main characteristics of these services, a brief overview of their implementation in Spain,
their advantages as harm reduction strategies as well as their limitations and the criticisms
received by their detractors are presented in this paper.