In this Paris laboratory, they come to have their drugs tested

Music, cupcakes and… drugs. Computer in shoulder strap, a couple of thirty -something arrives in the analysis permanence “Before”, organized every Thursday in Paris, to know what their products contain: white heroine and brunette. In a relaxed atmosphere, Athur Morel, a specialized educator, receives them in the reception and support center for risk reduction for drug users (Caarud), installed in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital. A place where consumer products pass under the microscope.

“The cocktail of several depressant products presents a deadly risk”

“Some users already have the stress of coming with a drug, to be arrested, so we try to make them comfortable,” explains Grégory PFAU, pharmacist specializing in psychoactive substances and co -founder of the analysis tone prod 'network (ATP ).

The voluntary analyzes of products by consumers are more and more numerous in France: 4,400 in 2024, against 2,126 in 2022, according to figures provided by ATP. Authorized since 2016, drug analysis is aimed at all major consumers wishing to learn about their products “to be able to make informed choices on their consumption”.

“I have no right to touch the product, you are going to do it,” says Arthur Morel. The couple crushes the heroine powder in a mortar. Twenty milligrams are enough to detect the various psychoactive substances present and their concentration. The couple thinks that their heroine is 70%pure.

In the laboratory of a few square meters, Maxime Triguel, toxicologist, explains the operation of the high -performance liquid phase chromatograph (HPLC). The machine, one meter high, allows the different molecules to be separated in just 12 minutes.

The computer displays a curve of six peaks, corresponding to a medicine from the benzodiazepines family, a depressant, such as heroin. “The cocktail of several depressant products has a deadly risk of slowing down the nervous system,” warns Maxime Triguel. The sample will therefore be sent to the French observatory of drugs and addictive trends (OFDT) and the couple will be notified of the results by SMS.

“Heart fatigue”

Created in 2021, the Association Analysis Ton Prod 'is a partner of the national identification system for toxic and substances of OFDT. “We watch together on the circulation of new and atypical products,” says Grégory Pfau.

“Mimi” has his products analyzed for the first time at “Before”. The 27-year-old engineer says he consume “every weekend”, in the evening or in rave. This big shy evokes doubts about MDMA “a little strong, perhaps a little cut”, “heart fatigue”, a difficult sleep.

“I should have come before,” recognizes this young man, who lives far from the laboratory. “I really want to know: did I drink my body?” »»

“Cocaine, MDMA and Ketamine are increasingly concentrated,” says Grégory Pfau. As evidenced by the ketamine sample of a 29 -year -old user analyzed a few minutes ago: concentrated at 92%.

“Users often come after feeling negative effects. They think it's cut with other things, but in fact it is dosed at more than 80%, ”continues the pharmacist.

“I often offer them to weigh everything they have about them. Many are surprised in front of the scale. They realize that they were going to consume more than they had planned, because a pouch of 100 milligrams can weigh 70 or 140 in reality. »»

Regarding 92%étatamine, he warned, “an error of 30 milligrams on an almost pure product can cause very different effects”.

With AFP

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