ALICE RAP Policy Paper Series: Novel psychoactive substances – Challenges and policy responses

ALICE RAP (Addictions and Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe – Reframing Addictions Project) is the first major Europe wide project studying addictions as a whole and their influence on wealth, health and stealth. The aim of this five year, €10 million, co-financed EU project is to stimulate and feed scientific evidence into a comprehensive public dialogue and debate on current and alternative approaches to addictions.

The AR Policy Paper series aims to provide succinct evidence briefs for decision-makers and advocates working on key addiction-related issues. This third paper focuses on Novel Psychoactive Substances. The emergence of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) over the last decade, and their shifting legal status and points of sale and distribution, poses particular challenges to policy makers. These are substances which are not controlled under United Nations Drugs Conventions, and whilst few have been recommended for control by the Council of the European Union, Member States have introduced their own legislation, leading to a broad array of policy responses.

This AR policy paper gives an introduction into the field of NPS, outlining the current situation regarding the use of these substances, the potential threat to public health and well-being that they pose and describes various policy options and legislative measures that are undertaken across Europe.

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