New Psychoactive Substances: Reading List

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a diverse group of substances designed to replicate the effects of substances like cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. The nature of the ever-changing NPS market raises concerns about their chemical, metabolic and toxicity profiles, and the linked physical, social and mental health harms.

Over the past months, ISSUP has put together a webinar series on the topic. The recordings for the webinars can be found here. Additionally, this reading list provides links to resources, publications and research exploring the subject.

1) EMCDDA has put together a webpage that provides an overview of new psychoactive substances. As well as sharing information, the website also includes the latest events and news on the subject.

2) This early warning advisory, published by UNODC, shares an overview of new psychoactive substances, examines the risks and provides an overview of the different ways that UNODC is assisting governments in this area.

3) This review, which was published in therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, explores the nature of NPS and the physical and mental health harms, which are commonly associated with their use.

4) This book provides an analysis of the social and economic impact of the NPS. It presents an overview of the international regulation, policy and market structure and covers topics such as organized crime, drug markets, and clinical evidence on NPS.

5) Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health is a new international journal devoted to the rapid publication of authoritative papers on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), Addiction and associated health phenomena. You can read the new open-access journal here.

6) The Handbook of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) provides an overview of the challenges that clinicians face when dealing with NPS. Written by experts in the field, the handbook provides information on symptoms, psychopathology, toxicity, and overall clinical management.

7) This document,  developed by NEPTUNE, provides guidance on the clinical management of harms resulting from acute intoxication and from the harmful and dependent use of club drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). 

8) Here, you can access training modules, developed by project NEPTUNE and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, to improve clinical practice in the management of harms resulting from the use of club drugs and novel psychoactive substances.