History:
Drug abuse and trafficking in controlled substances are global problems, and in recent years law enforcement has looked to international solutions for these problems.  In 1997 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) co-sponsored the formation of the Technical Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (TWGDRUG), now known as the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG).

Forensic scientists from the United States, England, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as representatives of the United Nations, several international forensic organizations and academia were invited to meet in Washington, DC. In 1999, this group, with input from the international forensic science community, finalized recommendations for the education and professional development of forensic drug practitioners. Two years later, recommendations to enhance quality assurance protocols and define methods for the analysis and identification of seized drugs in forensic laboratories around the world were adopted. The SWGDRUG name was adopted in 1999.

SWGDRUG is now comprised of a core committee of more than 20 forensic scientists from around the world.  The mission of SWGDRUG is to recommend minimum standards for the forensic examination of seized drugs and to seek their international acceptance.

SWGDRUG Core Committee members have received hundreds of responses to international surveys and requests for comments from forensic drug analysts. Methods of communication have included this internet site (www.swgdrug.org), MICROGRAM, presentations at numerous local, national and international meetings, and personal contacts.