Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy Makers

Fay Watson, Secretary General, EURAD

Summary

• About Us• Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy

Makers• An update on draft EU legislation on new

psychoactive substances

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Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy Makers

The Use of Psychoactive Substances: Spikes In Trends Rather Than A Rising Tide?

The intertwined markets of NPS and illicit substances

• Production: NPS have been found to contain controlled substances (Brandt et al, 2010; Ramsey et al, 2010 & EMCDDA, 2011a)

• Distribution: Sold alongside controlled substances on online forums but mostly sold in friendship groups

• Consumption: Users of new psychoactive substances frequently have had experiences with other illicit drugs (Wood, 2012; Miller et al, 2009).

Evidence of adverse effects exists but few data systems to capture harm of new substances

National Responses To NPS

• Combined legislative approaches (i.e. Romania)

• Consumer legislation (i.e. Poland, Sweden)

• Regulated sales (i.e. New Zealand)

• Pharmaceutical legislation (i.e. Austria)

• Healthcare responses (i.e. WEDINOS, Wales)

Public Opinion- Comprehensive Ways To Tackle Drug Problems

• 49% think that prevention campaigns would be effective in reducing drug problems

• 37% think that rehabilitation would be effective in reducing drug problems

• 24% think that addressing social issues (i.e. poverty and unemployment) would be effective in reducing drug problems

Public Opinion- Legislative Ways To Tackle Psychoactive Substances

Whatever the approach, one of the most important elements is….

An update on draft EU legislation on new psychoactive substances

• Proposals announced 17th September 2013

• Proposal includes a reduction in the time taken to respond to NPS at the EU level

• Takes a consumer approach rather than a drug control approach

An update on draft EU legislation on new psychoactive substances

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Contact Me

Fay WatsonSecretary General17 Rue ArchimedeBrusselsBelgiumFay.watson@eurad.net