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

Int J Ment Health Addict. 2018;16(2):480-495. doi: 10.1007/s11469-017-9824-1. Epub 2017 Dec 7. Van Hout MC1, Benschop A2, Bujalski M3, Dąbrowska K3, Demetrovics Z4, Felvinczi K4, Hearne E5, Henriques S6, Kaló Z4, Kamphausen G7, Korf D2, Silva JP6, Wieczorek Ł3, Werse B7. Author information 1 1Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. 2 2Bonger Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3 3Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland. 4 4Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. 5 5School of Health Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. 6 6Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. 7 7Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, Germany. 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. KEYWORDS: Health and social consequences; Marginalised drug user; NPS; Nightlife; Novel psychoactive substance; Online drug user PMID: 29674947 PMCID: PMC5897487 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-017-9824-1