Increases in use of novel synthetic stimulant are not directly linked to decreased use of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA)

Multi-residue determination of 10 selected new psychoactive substances in wastewater samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

“…Consequently, they have similar pharmacological properties to the popular stimulants cocaine, amphetamines, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) [5][6][7][8][9]. Important toxicity effects have also been associated with the recreational use of these drugs [10][11][12][13][14]. The pattern of use and prevalence of NPSs and their control status are different depending on the country, but it is clear that both consumption and the number of consumed substances are increasing fast.…”

“Legal Highs” – An Emerging Epidemic of Novel Psychoactive Substances

“…However, recent studies suggest that this was not the case. Instead of replacing or displacing ecstasy and cocaine, mephedrone, and most likely other NPS from this group, appears to have been added to the established repertoires of psychostimulant narcotics (Chen, Kostakis, Irvine, & White, 2013;Moore, Dargan, Wood, & Measham, 2013).…”

Monitoring drug markets in the Internet age and the evolution of drug monitoring systems in Australia

“…Australia has developed a strong capacity to monitor trends in illicit drug markets over the past two decades. [6,7] All these systems provide unique and important information about drug markets in Australia. [4] Administrative data collections (such as hospital admissions and causes of deaths data) are integrated into monitoring systems [5] to provide trends in drug-related morbidity and mortality.…”

“…wastewater and Internet marketplace analysis) are emerging to capture market trends that may not be adequately covered in more traditional monitoring systems. [6,7] All these systems provide unique and important information about drug markets in Australia. The aim of this paper is to briefly discuss the evolution of Australian drug monitoring systems in response to specific and local changes in drug markets and drug policy, and to outline in more detail the impetus for initiating the first online marketplace monitoring system Drugs and New Technologies (DNeT) in Australia.…”