In the Netherlands, government-licensed drug checking has occured for over the past two decades and has grown from a small scale project into a nationwide scientific monitor. As one of the world’s oldest drug checking services, the ‘Drugs Information and Monitoring System’ (DIMS) can provide advice and insight from lessons learned on how to set up and operate a drug checking service to all international collaborators, many of whom are taking their first steps in providing national drug checking programs.

This factsheet offers an overview of the history, organisation, common practice and strategies for warning campaigns of DIMS, and aims to serve as an objective insight into the ins and outs of drug checking as being executed in the Netherlands. While political and public opinion on the subject differs from country to country, sharing information will have its value for public health for certain.

In this factsheet:
• History of drug checking in the Netherlands
• Organisation of DIMS
• How drug checking in the Netherlands works
• When and how a warning campaign or Red Alert is issued
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What has drug checking by DIMS brought the Netherlands?