The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in young people and their role in mental health care : a systematic review
Introduction: Over the past 10 years, a large number of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have entered the recreational drug scenario. NPS intake has been associated with health-related risks, and especially so for vulnerable populations such as the youngsters. Currently, most knowledge on the NPS health effects is learnt from both a range of users’ reports, made available through the psychonauts’ web fora, and from the few published, related toxicity, clinical observations. Areas covered: This paper aims at providing an overview of NPS effects on youngsters’ mental health, whilst performing a systematic review of the current related knowledge. Expert opinion: NPS consumption poses serious health risks, due to both a range of unpredictable clinical pharmacological properties and the typical concomitant use of other psychoactive molecules; overall, this can lead to near misses and fatalities. In comparison with adults, the central nervous system of children/adolescents may be more vulnerable to the activity of these molecules, hence raising even further the levels of health-related concerns. More research is needed to provide evidence of both short- and long-term effects of NPS, related health risks, and their addiction potential.
Item Type | Article |
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Additional information | © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Accepted for publication in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 09/09/2019. |
Keywords | nps, mental health, novel psychoactive substances, youngsters, ‘legal highs’, general neuroscience, clinical neurology, pharmacology (medical) |
Date Deposited | 15 May 2025 14:09 |
Last Modified | 04 Jun 2025 17:11 |
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