Novel Psychoactive Substances: A New Challenge for Prevention and Treatment

In the past two decades, the emergence of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) has changed the face of drug markets. Synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, novel synthetic opioids, tryptamines, and piperazines became popular alternatives to illicit drugs, primarily because of their easy availability, low price, and intense effects. Analogous NPS are also often misold as traditional drugs due to the often broader profit margins and lower criminal risk profile associated with them. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the epidemiology, user and consumption characteristics, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of the most proliferate NPS, alongside an introduction to effective prevention and treatment methods for both adolescent and adult populations of NPS users.