DIMS affiliated organizations hold weekly consulting hours. Here, users are able to hand in drugs for analysis, anonymously and discretely. If the sample can be determined, the composition is passed on directly. OPEN If not, the sample is sent to the laboratory for further analysis. A week later, the drugs have been analysed and the results are communicated. Sometimes the result is so disturbing, that a warning or Red Alert is issued. ! Extra dangerous drugs What is DIMS? The Drugs Information and Monitoring System is a national network of testing facilities that aims at gaining an insight into the market of controlled substances. Commissioned by the Ministry of Health (VWS) and local authorities Tactus VNN Brijder IrisZorg Mondriaan Novadic- Kentron Stichting Mainline Jellinek Youz GGD Amsterdam Indigo Haaglanden Vincent van Gogh DIMS bureau Embedded in Trimbos-instituut Activities: DIMS examines the content of drugs, its associated health-related risks, and analyses trends. Method: DIMS monitors the market in controlled drugs by offering consumers the possibility to have their drugs tested. Application: The data collected are being used for education, prevention and policy interventions. Warnings: DIMS occasionally warns on a national, regional or local level, or e.g. via social media for drugs involving extra risks. Education: The testing facilities serve a major educational purpose and provide information on effects and risks of drugs. How does it work? 2017: No warnings or Red Alerts Unlike previous years, in 2017 no regional or national warnings ('Red Alerts') were issued. However, a number of internal signalings were issued, targeting only the DIMS network and its visitors. Ecstasy tablet with logo Facebook, containing on average 250 mgs MDMA. Ecstasy tablet with logo No See/Hear/Speak containing high concentrations of MDMA, or containing MDMA and mephedrone. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun ! LSD paper trips containing an additional LSD-like substance ! Ketamine often containing other substances. Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) Annual Report 2017
Here, users are able to hand in drugs foranalysis, anonymouslyand discretely.
If the sample can bedetermined, thecomposition ispassed on directly.
OPEN
If not, the sample issent to thelaboratory forfurther analysis.
A week later, thedrugs have beenanalysed and theresults arecommunicated.
Sometimes the result is so disturbing, thata warning or RedAlert is issued.
!Extra dangerous drugs
What is DIMS?The Drugs Information andMonitoring System is a nationalnetwork of testing facilitiesthat aims at gaining aninsight into the market ofcontrolled substances.
Commissionedby the Ministry
of Health (VWS)and local
authorities
TactusVNN
Brijder
IrisZorg
Mondriaan
Novadic-Kentron
StichtingMainline
Jellinek
Youz
GGDAmsterdam
IndigoHaaglanden
Vincentvan Gogh
DIMS bureauEmbedded in
Trimbos-instituut
Activities: DIMS examines the content of drugs, its associated health-related risks, and analyses trends.
Method: DIMS monitors the market in controlleddrugs by offering consumers the possibility to have their drugs tested.
Application: The data collected are being used for education, prevention and policy interventions.
Warnings: DIMS occasionally warns on a national, regional or local level, or e.g. via social media for drugs involving extra risks.
Education: The testing facilities serve a majoreducational purpose and provide information on effects and risks of drugs.
How does it work?
2017: No warnings or Red Alerts
Unlike previous years, in 2017 no regional or national warnings ('Red Alerts') were issued. However, a number of internal signalings were issued, targeting only the DIMS network and its visitors.
Ecstasy tablet withlogo Facebook,containing on average 250 mgs MDMA.
Ecstasy tablet with logoNo See/Hear/Speakcontaining high concentrations of MDMA, or containing MDMA and mephedrone.
Ecstasy tablet withlogo Facebook,
Ecstasy tablet with logo
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
!LSD paper trips containing an additional LSD-like substance
!Ketamine oftencontaining other substances.
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS)Annual Report 2017
4-FA (4-fluoramphetamine) in 20174-FA (also known as 4-fluoroamphetamine or 4-FMP) currently forms 72% of all samples of NPS that are handed in at DIMS.
Effects of 4-FA•Increased energy•Euphoria•Talkative•Delays fatigue
4-FA is commonly handed in as a powder or pill, but also as a capsule and
seldomly as fluid.(In italic, average purity or dosage,and price per pill/capsule/powder)
€ 15.40
€ 4.75
€ 6.05
231powder
72%
292pills
120 mgs
134capsules
69%
From 2013 onwards, there was a strong increase in the number of 4-FA samples handed in at DIMS. In 2017,
the number of 4-FA samples decreased sharply.
0
300
600
900
1200
2013 2015 201720162014
684
87
340
728
1076
Of all samples that are handed in to DIMS, four percent consists of ketamine.
Average price per grampowder: € 25.10powder: € 25.10
Risks•Bad trip•Nausea, vomiting•Respiratory disorders•Muscle stiffening or paralysis
!
Ketamine in 2017
* excluding methylone, ketamine, 2C-B, GHB and DMT, substances classified among NPS by the EMCDDA
At DIMS regularly New Psychoactive Substances (also called 'research
chemicals') are handed in. This mainly involves 4-FA.
0
400
800
1.200
1.600
2013 2015 201720162014
165
464
929 947
1337
Ketamine samples sometimes contain other substances.
86%ketamine
5 % chlorphenirame3% lidocaine
2% other 3% nothing1% 2-fluorodeschloroketamine
Effects•Mind altering•Out-of-body experience
Purity64% in 2017
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR)Since 2016, DIMS uses FT-IR for analyzing some samples. FT-IR is reliable in detecting adulterations, and a proper estimate of
concentrations can be made. By using FT-IR, less samples need to be sent
to the laboratory, allowing for more analyses in a faster way.
LSD in 2017Two percent of the submitted samples consists of LSD. In less than a quarter of the submitted LSD samples, substances other than LSD were detected.
Average price perblotter: € 7.30blotter: € 7.30
Effects•Hallucinogenic
Risks•Bad trip•Nausea•Flash backs Average dosage
81 µgs in 2017
!In 2017, in 86% of samples sold asLSD, this substance was actually
detected.
2% 1p-LSD2% other 5% nothing
5% 2C-B
86%LSD
2C-B (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) is commonly handed in as a pill but sometimes as a powder as well. The effects strongly depend on
the dose taken. 96% of the pills handed in as 2C-B contained 2C-B.
Average price per pill: € 4.20pill: €pill: € 4.20pill: € 4.204.20
Averagedosage pills11 mgs in 2017
Risks•Bad trip•Effects stronger than
expected/overdose
!
Effects•At low dose: euphoria,
increased energy•At high dose: hallucinogenic
2C-B in 2017
A publication of DIMS
The Drugs Information andMonitoring System is a nationalnetwork of testing facilitiesthat aims at gaining aninsight into the market ofcontrolled substances.
Commissionedby the Ministry
of Health (VWS)and local
authorities
TactusVNN
Brijder
IrisZorg
Mondriaan
Novadic-Kentron
StichtingMainline
Jellinek
Youz
GGDAmsterdam
IndigoHaaglanden
Vincentvan Gogh
DIMS bureauEmbedded in
Trimbos-instituut
Product number: INF033Text: Daan van der Gouwe and Sander RigterDesign: Rikkers Infographics
All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced and / or published in anyform or by any means without prior permissionfrom the Trimbos Institute.
