Hair drug testing — an innovative method for monitoring drug use

The EMCDDA uses a variety of methods and tools to monitor prevalence and patterns of drug use in the general population in Europe. One innovative new approach being trialled by the agency is hair drug testing, which can detect illicit drugs and their breakdown products (metabolites) in hair. The method involves collecting hair samples from volunteers and analysing them for traces of substances which may have recently been consumed. 28.03.2022