New Psychoactive Substances: a Review and Updates

Overview

Journal Ther Adv Psychopharmacol

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2021 Jan 8

PMID 33414905

Citations 54

Authors

Abu Shafi

Alex J Berry

Harry Sumnall

David M Wood

Derek K Tracy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a heterogeneous group of substances. They are associated with a number of health and social harms on an individual and societal level. NPS toxicity and dependence syndromes are recognised in primary care, emergency departments, psychiatric inpatient and community care settings. One pragmatic classification system is to divide NPS into one of four groups: synthetic stimulants, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic hallucinogens and synthetic depressants (which include synthetic opioids and benzodiazepines). We review these four classes of NPS, including their chemical structures, mechanism of action, modes of use, intended intoxicant effects, and their associated physical and mental health harms. The current challenges faced by laboratory testing for NPS are also explored, in the context of the diverse range of NPS currently available, rate of production and emergence of new substances, the different formulations, and methods of acquisition and distribution.

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