New psychoactive substances-themed issue BJCP

Themed issue details that since the start of the 21st century, there has been an increase in the use of a range of drugs known as “novel psychoactive substances,” (NPS) or “legal highs” and “herbal highs.” By the end of 2018, 730 substances had been detected in Europe.

SPS commentary:

Articles in the themed issue include:

 

  • The challenge of the novel psychoactive substances: How have we responded and what are the implications of this response?
  • The clinical challenges of synthetic cathinones
  • City checking: Piloting the UK's first community‐based drug safety testing (drug checking) service in 2 city centres
  • New psychoactive substances: Pharmacology influencing UK practice, policy and the law
  • Clinical value of analytical testing in patients presenting with new psychoactive substances intoxication
  • A deadly trend in fentanyl fatalities (England, 1998–2017)
  • New psychoactive substances: Pharmacology influencing UK practice, policy and the law
  • How preclinical studies have influenced novel psychoactive substance legislation in the UK and Europe
  • How deaths can help clinicians and policy‐makers understand the risks of novel psychoactive substances
  • Understanding the UK Psychoactive Substances Act
  • Impact of the UK Psychoactive Substances Act on awareness, use, experiences and knowledge of potential associated health risks of novel psychoactive substances
  • Evaluation of long‐term detection trends of new psychoactive substances in pooled urine from city street portable urinals (London, UK)

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology