New psychoactive Substances - Ten-year overview of the situation in France
Tendances n° 127, OFDT, 8 p.
October 2018
Ten years after the emergence of NPS, the available data reveal lower detection rates for new substances, and their use is still somewhat limited in France. This has not prevented these substances from gaining a foothold in certain user circles and occasionally being sought after by a wider audience.
Supply and dynamics of the phenomenon, substances used, user profiles, health consequences: this issue of Tendances covers the overall developments observed concerning these drugs. This is based on the knowledge developed by the OFDT via its TREND scheme, SINTES, the I-TREND project, and all information sources used by the French Monitoring Centre.
Two aspects specific to France may explain the limited impact of NPS. Firstly, there are no physical smartshops in France. The absence of such stores in France has slowed NPS consumption, particularly for brand-name substances. Furthermore, the editorial policy of French-speaking online discussion forums also plays a protective role: members are requested to only use the chemical names of the substances. This limits the visibility and appeal of substances for young users, along with the spread of inaccurate information.
Author : Magali Martinez, Thomas Néfau, Agnès Cadet-Taïrou
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