The North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is conducting a study to investigate the misuse of medicines by children and young people.
It is about drug tests in facilities for child and youth welfare, disability care and psychiatry from the founding of the state in 1946 to 1980, as the ministry announced on Sunday in Düsseldorf.
A community of researchers from various universities headed by the Düsseldorf medical historian Heiner Fangerau should present the results in around two years.
"The research results available so far and reports of experiences from victims at the time show in many cases that children and young people were improperly and abusively administered medication," explained Social Affairs Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU).
"This dark chapter of our country's history must be cleared up," said the politician.
"We owe that to those affected."
The state finances the study with 430,000 euros, it said.
It is intended to reveal the background and extent of drug testing in homes in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The use of drugs to discipline or immobilize children and young people is also being investigated.
To do this, the research team will research the archives of facility providers and pharmaceutical companies.
In addition, eyewitness interviews are planned.