VIENNA, Austria – June 2024: The challenge of New Psychoactive Substances – A technical update 2024 provides update information on the new psychoactive substances (NPS) encountered on the market, complementing the UNODC publication - The challenge of new psychoactive substances, 2013. The report is structured by effect groups of NPS with descriptions of mechanism of action, form/preparations, routes of administration and scheduled substances within each group. Chapters for each NPS group present information on substructural chemical classification and evolution through modification of core structures including effects of structural change on activity.

The NPS market has undergone significant changes over the past 10 years and has become increasingly more complex. While 10 years ago, when the first challenge of NPS report was published 254 NPS were reported, 10 years later 1,239 individual NPS have been reported. In addition, UNODC looks at an effect-based classification of NPS and the number of structural chemical groups has increased from 7 to 15. 

The information on NPS emergence presented in the report reflects information available at the UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS. UNODC gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Bundeskriminalamt Austria, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), European Union Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances / European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Health Canada, International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and World Customs Organization (WCO, and many other organizations and initiatives to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory.

For more information, please see:

The challenge of New Psychoactive Substances – A technical update 2024 (link)

The challenge of new psychoactive substances, 2013 (link)

***The Spanish translation of this news item is made possible thanks to a collaboration with OAS/CICAD, a partner of the UNODC EWA.***