The market for new psychoactive substances (NPS) is growing rapidly which means that conventional methods of identification and monitoring are increasingly reaching their limits. NARCOSIS is therefore developing an innovative, multidisciplinary platform to make forensic investigations and prosecution more effective.

NARCOSIS‘ goals:

• Fast and reliable detection of NPS using a modern screening and classification platform.
• AI-supported analysis tools to support the EU early warning system in identifying new drugs.
• Establishment of a common, cross-organizational reference database to share information efficiently.
• Integration of portable and laboratory-based analysers (Raman/SERS, IR, HSI, HRMS) for more detailed investigations.
• Improving forensic analysis through data fusion and machine learning to recognise NPS and their metabolites.

Why is NARCOSIS so important?

• Faster and more accurate identification of illegal substances.
• Better co-operation between laboratories, law enforcement and forensic experts.
• Legally compliant evidence for investigations and court proceedings.
• Strengthening of public safety by combatting drug-related crimes more effectively.

NARCOSIS is a pioneering platform that will revolutionise forensic analyses and better equip Europe against new drug threats.

DIN is responsible for the standardization activities within the project. This includes the following tasks: compilation of an overview of published standards relevant for the project, development of a standardization strategy for NARCOSIS including the analysis of standardization gaps, the identification of needs for new or revised standards, and, where appropriate, the drafting of CEN Workshop Agreements (CWA) with the project partners and any interested experts.

For further information please see: https://www.narcosis-project.eu

Project duration

11/2024 – 10/2027

Project coordination

Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA)

Project partners

• Italian National Agency for New Technologies,Energy
  and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA)
• Center for Security Studies (KEMEA)
• Ministero della Difesa – Carabinieri (RaCIS)
• Particle Summary Lda (PARTICLE)
• University of Alcalá (UAH)
• Europejski Instytut Badan Interdyscyplinarnych (EIIR)
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Chemische Technologie (FHG-ICT)
• University of Bari "Aldo Moro" (UNIBA)
• METROHM Deutschland GMBH & CO. KG (MET)
• Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)
• Ministerio del Interior - Policía Nacional (MIR-PN)
• Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España (ISFEDE)
• National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Science (INTCF)
• German Standardisation Institute (DIN)
• Polícia Judiciária (PJ)
• Bar Ilan University (BIU)
• Università degli studi di Tor Vergata (UNITOV)
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC)

Project funding

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.