The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat
New psychoactive substances (NPS) pose a major public threat and are a growing problem worldwide. They were designed to replace banned or controlled drugs while escaping quality control measures. Their chemical structure is constantly changed which imposes a major forensic challenge, and makes it di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016423000099 |
| _version_ | 1797861163557453824 |
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| author | Hawraa Sameer Sajwani |
| author_facet | Hawraa Sameer Sajwani |
| author_sort | Hawraa Sameer Sajwani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | New psychoactive substances (NPS) pose a major public threat and are a growing problem worldwide. They were designed to replace banned or controlled drugs while escaping quality control measures. Their chemical structure is constantly changed which imposes a major forensic challenge, and makes it difficult for law enforcement measures to track and ban them. Hence, they are called “legal highs” as they replicate illicit drugs whilst remaining legal.Low cost, easy accessibility and less legal liability are the main factors that contribute to the popularity of NPS among the public. This is particularly with the lack of knowledge of the health risks and harms associated with NPS not only amongst the public, but healthcare professionals as well, which further constitutes a challenge for preventative and treatment measures.Further medico-legal investigation, extensive laboratory and non-laboratory analyses, and advanced forensic measures are necessary to identify, schedule and control new psychoactive substances. Besides, additional efforts are required to educate the public and increase their awareness regarding NPS and their potential harms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:57:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3f80f7ec17f418f8d79be9654313b64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1319-0164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:57:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3f80f7ec17f418f8d79be9654313b642023-03-24T04:22:02ZengElsevierSaudi Pharmaceutical Journal1319-01642023-03-01313348350The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threatHawraa Sameer Sajwani0MBBCh, MRCPsych, CMQ, MSc Addiction Studies - King's College London, Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Adelaide. ISAM. Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship – University of California, Los Angeles. Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship - University of Toronto. GCSRT, Harvard Medical School. Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAENew psychoactive substances (NPS) pose a major public threat and are a growing problem worldwide. They were designed to replace banned or controlled drugs while escaping quality control measures. Their chemical structure is constantly changed which imposes a major forensic challenge, and makes it difficult for law enforcement measures to track and ban them. Hence, they are called “legal highs” as they replicate illicit drugs whilst remaining legal.Low cost, easy accessibility and less legal liability are the main factors that contribute to the popularity of NPS among the public. This is particularly with the lack of knowledge of the health risks and harms associated with NPS not only amongst the public, but healthcare professionals as well, which further constitutes a challenge for preventative and treatment measures.Further medico-legal investigation, extensive laboratory and non-laboratory analyses, and advanced forensic measures are necessary to identify, schedule and control new psychoactive substances. Besides, additional efforts are required to educate the public and increase their awareness regarding NPS and their potential harms.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016423000099New psychoactive substancesLegal highsDesigner drugsStimulantsSynthetic cannabinoidsSedative-hypnotic drugs |
| spellingShingle | Hawraa Sameer Sajwani The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal New psychoactive substances Legal highs Designer drugs Stimulants Synthetic cannabinoids Sedative-hypnotic drugs |
| title | The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat |
| title_full | The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat |
| title_fullStr | The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat |
| title_short | The dilemma of new psychoactive substances: A growing threat |
| title_sort | dilemma of new psychoactive substances a growing threat |
| topic | New psychoactive substances Legal highs Designer drugs Stimulants Synthetic cannabinoids Sedative-hypnotic drugs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016423000099 |
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