The Combined Surveillance and Monitoring of Seized Samples (CoSMoSS) program is a joint harm reduction initiative between NSW Health and NSW Police Force. The program allows the analysis of street level drug samples seized from music festivals or specified geographic regions and suspected to contain a target drug (cocaine, heroin, MDMA/'ecstasy' or methamphetamine). Analysis of the contents and purity of CoSMoSS samples between 2021 and 2025 has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug and Alcohol Review (open access). An earlier report on the pilot program (2019-2020) is available at Combined Surveillance and Monitoring of Seized Samples (CoSMoSS).
A selection of samples seized by NSW Police Force during routine operations from both music festivals and specified police regions are sent to the NSW Health Pathology Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS) for comprehensive analysis. Weight, drugs and adulterants detected, purity and dose (where applicable) are determined for each sample. This information is made available to the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs and NSW Police Force. Findings from the CoSMoSS program contribute to NSW Health's early warning system - public drug warnings and clinical safety alerts.