In the Red Alert app, users of recreational drugs can see which ecstasy pills (and other drugs) known to the Trimbos Institute carry an especially high risk to health.
User research
The main reason app users download the app is that it provides a list of reliable, up-to-date and relevant information and photos of particularly dangerous pills. This emerged from an online evaluation among 352 app users and ten interviews. The use of all drugs always entails risks, but with some pills, powders and liquids those risks are particularly high. This is the case, for example, with very highly dosed ecstasy pills or contaminated pills. The drug samples submitted by users at one of the drug testing locations enable the Trimbos Institute to provide an up-to-date and reliable list via the Red Alert app of particularly risky drugs currently in circulation.
App does what you expect it to do
At the beginning of this year, research was conducted into users’ experiences with the Red Alert app, in the form of an online questionnaire and interviews. The main questions in the research were: What are the reasons for downloading the app? To what extent are app users satisfied with the app? What areas for improvement do they identify?
According to respondents, the app largely meets their expectations, as shown by the online research: they gave it an average score of 3.97 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 means that the app completely meets expectations. The interviews showed that a number of participants appreciated the fact that the app is simple and, above all, does what they believe it is intended to do: issue warnings about particularly risky drugs.
“A clear overview of pills that require extra caution, with an accompanying photo and description”
What could be improved?
A large proportion of participants seem to want to see more activity in the app, particularly in the form of information about other types of drugs, risks and effects, and the effects of (dangerous) substances. Some also indicated that they would like more news and push notifications. The results of both the online survey and the interviews show that most participants find the push notifications in response to a Red Alert, the warnings about particularly risky drugs and the ‘First Aid’ section useful.
“There are things in it that I didn’t know yet, for example how to act when someone isn’t doing very well”
Can a blacklist also have the opposite effect?
The research shows that the estimated risk of a pill is significantly lower when the pill is not on the blacklist than when it is. Because there is no reference point for how risky users normally consider ecstasy to be, it is difficult to interpret this result precisely. It could just as well be argued that the app succeeds in (rightly) increasing the estimated risk of certain pills, after which people more often decide not to take the pill. Further research will provide more clarity on this.
However, the interviews showed that all app users questioned interpret the blacklist as intended and take it very seriously.
A young woman explains what she thinks when she sees a pill listed:
“Then it’s a real risk pill and I stay well away from it. And it shocks me: there are still bad pills in circulation, so be careful, even if it isn’t on the list. Then I’m properly warned again.”
Some app users warned the researchers about the possible false sense of security: if a pill is not listed, it may incorrectly be considered safe.
Improvements to the app
Following the results, the app was improved and various changes were implemented, including the addition of the section “Tips for reducing the risks of use”.
The information in the app is based on the database of the Drug Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) of the Trimbos Institute and funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Download the updated Red Alert app via the App Store or Google Play, or via the website drugsredalert.nl.