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Monitoring the novel psychoactive
substances phenomenon in Europe

#NPS

#Toxicology

#Drugchecking

SCANNER project is an answer to the challenges related to the  increased presence of the novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in Europe. Substances are appearing on the market at the rapid rate, and the true contents of what is offered by vendors are usually unknown.

Project areas:

Epidemiology

We are comparing existing data collection systems and creating universal research tools on the NPS use.

Drug checking

We obtain NPS samples and analyze their real contents, looking for dangerous batches and patterns.

Laboratories

We are linking different laboratories across Europe, providing them with NPS reference materials and creating sharing protocols.

Policy analysis

We are monitoring drug markets across Europe, checking what effects the legislative changes in particular countries have had on them.

MAIN NPS TYPES:

Plenty of these substances had been known and used in medicine for years, but they haven't gained much popularity as recreational drugs, until now. New opioids such as fentanyl are responsible for a vast number of fatal overdoses in the last few years,

These substances became increasingly popular in the late 2000's, as an alternative to cannabis, due to their unrestricted legal status, and the fact that they are not detected by the most common drug tests, that are sometimes conducted in the workplace, or among the drivers. Contrary to the natural cannabinoids, their synthetic counterparts may lead to a fatal overdose.

A large group of substances that were supposed to substitute for cocaine and amphetamines. In some parts of Europe these drugs became more popular than their original predecessors.

Science & civil society in the NPS research

New psychoactive substances appearing in Europe

Number of newly detected NPS remains steady in the last few years
at the level of about one substance reported per week.

55 NPS detected for the first time in 2018
55%
52 NPS reported for the first time in 2017
52%
66 NPS detected for the first time in 2016
66%

Source: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

53
nps detected for the first time
790
substances monitored through th EU Warning System
READ MORE
SCIENSANO > Belgium
ACCIÓN, BIENESTAR Y DESARROLLO (ABD) > Spain
VERENIGING VOOR ALCOHOL EN ANDERE DRUGPROBLEMEN VZW (VAD) > Belgium
MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN (MUW) > Austria
YOUTH ORGANISATIONS FOR DRUG ACTION (YODA) > Poland
ASSOCIACAO KOSMICARE > Portugal
BERATUNG, ARBEIT, JUGEND U.KULTUR EV > Germany
DROGART > Slovenia
 

Contact us

scanner@sciensano.be