Health and Social Problems Associated with Recent Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use Amongst Marginalised, Nightlife and Online Users in Six European Countries

Marie Claire Van Hout,Łukasz Wieczorek,Michal Bujalski,Gerrit Kamphausen,Zsolt Demetrovics,Zsuzsa Kaló,Susana Henriques,Joana Paula Silva,Katarzyna Dąbrowska,Annemieke Benschop,Bernd Werse,Evelyn Hearne,Dirk Korf,Katalin Felvinczi

doi:10.1007/s11469-017-9824-1

Abstract

Continued diversification and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) across Europe remains a public health challenge. The study describes health and social consequences of recent NPS use as reported in a survey of marginalised, nightlife and online NPS users in the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Poland (n = 3023). Some respondents were unable to categorise NPS they had used. Use of ‘herbal blends’ and ‘synthetic cannabinoids obtained pure’ was most reported in Germany, Poland and Hungary, and use of ‘branded stimulants’ and ‘stimulants/empathogens/nootropics obtained pure’ was most reported in the Netherlands. Increased heart rate and palpitation, dizziness, anxiety, horror trips and headaches were most commonly reported acute side effects. Marginalised users reported substantially more acute side effects, more mid- and long-term mental and physical problems, and more social problems. Development of country-specific NPS awareness raising initiatives, health and social service needs assessments, and targeted responses are warranted.

Highlights

Continued diversification and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) across Europe remains a public health challenge
We report here on the declared acute and chronic health consequences of NPS use, and incurred social and legal problems as reported by the three groups of identified European NPS users, namely, socially marginalised users who are high risk drug users often unemployed, homeless and/or in care; nightlife users who are recreational drug users frequenting clubs, raves and/or festivals often in education and/or employed; and users active on the Internet and carrying out their NPS activity in online communities known as drug fora
This study was undertaken within the remit of a transnational and interdisciplinary European Union (EU) funded research project undertaken by researchers from different scientific disciplines in six EUcountries: Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal

Summary

Introduction

Continued diversification and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) across Europe remains a public health challenge. Use of NPS is associated with a range of acute and chronic health harms which are dependent on user characteristics and vulnerabilities, environmental characteristics, level of dosage, toxicity, route of administration and the presence of other substances Such harms generally centre on adverse cardiovascular, respiratory and gastro-intestinal consequences of use, transmission of blood borne viruses (HIV, Hepatitis C), neurological and psychiatric harms (for example psychosis and suicidal ideation), dependence and death (Every-Palmer 2010; Hadlock et al 2011; Maan and D’Souza 2011; Lusthof et al 2011; Werse and Morgenstern 2012; Kasick et al 2012; Grandy 2012; Seely et al 2012; Gunderson et al 2012; King and Nutt 2014; Abdulrahim et al 2015; Van Hout 2016)

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