Ten Years of International Collaboration to Address the Challenge of New Psychoactive Substances

Abstract

Over the last ten years, the number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) reported to UNODC has increased significantly to over 1,200 individual substances, reported by 141 countries and territories worldwide. Countries have addressed the challenges they face with proactive and innovative responses including a variety of national legislative responses. While these measures have to a large extent contributed to a reduction of these harmful substances and an overall stabilization of the NPS market, significant challenges remain, such as the continued presence of synthetic opioids, as well as new types of benzodiazepines and synthetic cannabinoids. Therefore, strong international collaboration among all actors is needed to detect, identify, monitor, analyse and share information on the use and risks of these substances. The UNODC early warning advisory and national and regional early warning mechanisms are key to generating the scientific evidence necessary to identify emerging harmful substances and develop appropriate responses at the national and international level. Translating trends into a threat analysis to communicate potential risks and raise awareness is key to reducing risks to public health and for effective policy design and programme interventions.