FREE TESTING TELLS AUSTRIAN RAVERS WHAT'S IN THE DRUGS

Austria Is Trying To Cut The Risk Of Harm - And Death - At
Raves.

Armed with a hi-tech computer-controlled mobile lab, teams of chemists
and social workers in the European country are offering free drug
testing at raves of 5,000 or more youths.

The project - Check It! - is the first in the world to offer analysis
that differentiates several hundred different substances and measures
their strength and the presence of any contaminants.

In B.C., Dance Safe, a volunteer group of youths, hands out drug
information at some raves and sells small test kits - but not ones
that identify side products or purity.

Austrian officials say they think the project has saved some lives and
has reduced emergency admissions.

Here's how it works: People voluntarily bring drugs to a tent where
each tablet or capsule is weighed, photographed and a small amount
scraped off. Usually one youth will bring all his group's drugs for
analysis.

Within 15 minutes, the results are posted by the anonymous client's
number.

Because no one on the team touches any drug or takes possession of the
entire pill, the operation is not accused of handing over drugs.

About half the people who have their drugs analysed take less when
they know what's in the pills - and seven per cent take more.