The Challenge of New Psychoactive Substances – A Technical Update 2024

"The Challenge of New Psychoactive Substances – A Technical Update 2024" is an update of the UNODC publication “The Challenge of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), 2013”, which focuses on the new psychoactive substances (NPS) encountered on the market. These are drugs not covered by older drug laws but can still be harmful. Known as "designer drugs," "legal highs," and "bath salts," NPS are sold as legal alternatives to banned drugs. They often change their chemical makeup to stay legal, making them hard to regulate. The report sorts NPS into groups like synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, tryptamines, and piperazines, describing their forms and effects, which can be unpredictable and varied. The rapid creation and change of these drugs challenge health and legal systems, making them hard to detect and control. The report calls for countries to work together to keep track of and control NPS and suggests improving forensic and toxicology tools to better understand these substances. It acknowledges the help of various governments and experts, showing the need for a team effort to tackle the issue of NPS. Overall, the document highlights the problems NPS cause and the need for global cooperation to reduce their impact on health and safety.