This module provides a general
introduction to club drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPS),
which are now established as part of the changing patterns of drug
use in the UK. Many people will use them with few health and social
consequences, but some will suffer from adverse effects, which can
be severe.
This module is aimed at all clinicians
and other staff who may come into contact with adults who use these
substances. NPS, in particular, pose a challenge to clinicians, not
least because of the ever-increasing large numbers, type and
availability of substances that have appeared over the last decade.
Most are untested and their harms are still poorly understood. Club
drug and NPS users may also be reluctant to engage with drug
services, which they see as poorly equipped and poorly trained to
help in a timely and effective manner.
The various club drugs and NPS can be
classified as depressants, stimulants, synthetic cannabinoid
receptor agonists (SCRAs) and hallucinogens. This classification
provides a framework to help clinicians understand the effects and
harms of these substances, based on existing knowledge and
experience.
The module will define club drugs and
NPS, examine the problems they cause and present which
clinical approaches work best. NEPTUNE has also produced other
modules covering the treatment of acute (Modules 2 to 4) and
chronic harms (Modules 5 to 7) in more detail; it is best to begin
with this introductory module before progressing to the more
specialist modules.
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module