Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health最新文献

{"title":"Clinical Frontiers in Psychedelic Research: A Scientometric Review of the Evolving Literature","authors":"R. Cavallaro,&nbsp;A. Carollo,&nbsp;O. Corazza,&nbsp;G. Esposito","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Psychedelics have long been used in spiritual and medicinal contexts. Recently, growing scientific interest, driven by preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy, has renewed focus on their therapeutic potential. This study explores the historical evolution of clinical psychedelic research using a scientometric approach.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We downloaded 1664 documents from Scopus, covering the period from 1964 to 2025. Subsequently, we performed a document co-citation analysis on their 113,612 cited references to identify influential publications and thematic domains.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Co-citation analysis revealed 81 key publications and ten thematic clusters, addressing topics such as the therapeutic use of LSD, the application of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, the neurophysiological effects of psychedelics, and their implication in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The role of psychedelics also emerged within emerging therapeutic approaches, such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, combining psychotherapeutic techniques with controlled administration of psychedelics. The analysis further highlighted recent key methodological, legislative, and ethical challenges associated with clinical implementation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the main thematic domains of research in the scientific literature on the clinical use of psychedelics. Findings suggest a strong focus on incorporating psychedelics in treating anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder, alongside persistent ethical concerns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100206"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering Psychedelics: From Neural Circuits to Therapeutic Applications","authors":"A. Melani,&nbsp;L. Biso,&nbsp;M. Scarselli","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Psychedelics, historically celebrated for their cultural and spiritual significance, have emerged as potential breakthrough therapeutic agents due to their profound effects on consciousness, emotional processing, mood, and neural plasticity. This review explores the mechanisms underlying psychedelics’ effects, focusing on their ability to modulate brain connectivity and neural circuit activity, including the default mode network (DMN), cortico-striatal thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loops, and the relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) model. Advanced neuroimaging techniques reveal psychedelics’ capacity to enhance functional connectivity between sensory cerebral areas while reducing the connections between associative brain areas, decreasing the rigidity and rendering the brain more plastic and susceptible to external changings, offering insights into their therapeutic outcome. The most relevant clinical trials of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) demonstrate significant efficacy in treating treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, with favorable safety profiles. Despite these advancements, critical gaps remain in linking psychedelics’ molecular actions to their clinical efficacy. This review highlights the need for further research to integrate mechanistic insights and optimize psychedelics as tools for both therapy and understanding human cognition.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is a narrative review on the influence of psychedelics on brain connectivity systems and on their mechanism of action. Accordingly, we searched relevant keywords on PubMed, such as “psychedelics AND 5-HT2A”, “psychedelics AND mechanism of action”, “psychedelics AND (default mode network OR DMN)”, “psychedelics AND (Cortico-Striatal Thalamo-Cortical OR CSTC)”, and “psychedelics AND (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedel-ics OR REBUS)”. Conclusion: To fully harness the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for the treatment of many psychiatric disorders, future research should clarify the precise role of the set, setting, and psychotherapy, which create a safe and meaningful framework for the individual to process and integrate their experiences. By developing structured therapeutic protocols, improving public education, and investing in training and research, the field can move forward to integrating psychedelics into mainstream psychiatric care while minimizing risks and maximizing benefits. Along the same lines, it would be interesting to clarify the contribution of mystical and psychedelic experiences to therapeutic outcomes, considering recent increasing evidence. These experiences are thought to play a pivotal role in mediating the psychological and emotional transformations observed in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Understanding their precise impact could help optimize treatment protocols and better id","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the Impact of Different Nitazenes on Human Cells Using a Cellular Viability Approach","authors":"J.R.P. Pereira,&nbsp;Z. Vaz da Silva,&nbsp;S. Fonseca,&nbsp;A. Quintas,&nbsp;N.R. Neng","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Among new synthetic opioids, nitazenes currently stand out, being responsible for countless intoxications worldwide. However, given their novelty, data on their interaction with human cells remain scarce. This study aims to assess the impact of nitazenes on cellular viability.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma) cells were used to evaluate the impact of nitazene derivatives on cellular viability via the MTT assay. The cell culture procedure was previously optimised to ensure optimal performance in the cytotoxicity tests. Methanol, acetonitrile and DMSO were tested at several percentages under 1% to assess their suitability as drug vehicles.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Optimal conditions were achieved with 2 × 10⁴ cells/well. Microscopy observation showed that DMSO exhibited the highest toxicity. Between acetonitrile and methanol, there were no observable differences by microscopy. The same result was obtained by the MTT assay, where a 2-way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in viability for all studied percentages. For methanol and acetonitrile, the cell viability results were above 80%. Preliminary MTT results indicate that isotonitazene has a higher effect on cell viability than metonitazene, and that both nitazenes significantly reduce cellular viability compared to morphine.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The obtained results clarify the extent of nitazenes' threat and provide insight into the possible relationship between their chemical structure and their toxicological effects on human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Pooled Urine Samples for Assessment of Psychoactive Substances Consumption and for Validation of Methods for Their Identification","authors":"S. Savchuk,&nbsp;A. Novikov,&nbsp;A. Gil,&nbsp;O. Astashkina,&nbsp;L. Risvanova,&nbsp;K. Primukhamedova,&nbsp;M. Augumov,&nbsp;G. Jumataeva,&nbsp;V. Kulbatsky,&nbsp;O. Kadochnikov","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Inconsistent results of traditional methods used for assessment of drug abuse situation in particular geographic location require searching for new approaches, one of which is the analysis of pooled urine samples.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Urine samples were collected in various regions of Russia during 2015-2025. For a comparison study, samples from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus were also collected. Aliquots positive for PS were stored in a large container during one month. Validation of analytical methods and retrospective identification of NPS were performed. The Association ASTFCAS.Ru has conducted the interlaboratory comparison testing of samples using GC-MS, HPLC-MS/MSqqq, HPLC-MS/MS(IT) and HPLC-MS/MSqtof and developed wastewater analysis methods in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Results and</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Since spike samples differ from real samples by presence and ratio of target compounds, the pooled urine samples were a good additive for validation and development of analytical methods. A decrease in the number of synthetic cannabimimetics has been observed in all regions of Russia since 2019. Club drugs, such as the cocaine, oxybutyrate, antidepressants and psychedelics were more common in samples collected in megacities. Pharmaceutical drugs prevailed in the southern regions of Russia. Pooled urine samples analysis demonstrated high validity and replicability in all countries participated in the study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100254"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Kratom Market and Kratom Products in the Czech Republic – Online Survey","authors":"L. Dékány,&nbsp;N. Govarthnapany,&nbsp;V. Pokorná,&nbsp;R. Gabrhelík,&nbsp;D. Singh,&nbsp;K. Smith,&nbsp;K. Hill,&nbsp;V. Mravčík","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is increasingly available in the Czech Republic, where it is currently unregulated and sold as a “collector’s item” with disclaimers against human use. The upcoming Psychomodulatory Substances Act will introduce sales restrictions and quality controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study uses a systematic online content analysis to map the Czech kratom e-commerce market. Vendors were identified via Czech-language keyword searches on Google and Seznam.cz. Data were collected on product types, pricing, branding, disclaimers, health claims, and regulatory compliance. Three snapshots are planned: before, 3 months after, and 6 months after the law’s implementation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Preliminary results from the pre-regulation snapshot show a wide range of kratom products (powders, capsules, extracts) sold online. Vendors often include vague health-related messaging and rarely provide lab testing or age restrictions. Delivery options and vendor transparency vary significantly.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Initial findings indicate an unregulated and potentially unsafe market. The new legislation may reduce availability and improve consumer protections. Ongoing data collection will enable comparison across time points and provide insight into the law’s effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging Fentanyl use in Northern Italy: Comparative Analysis of 2018 and 2023 screening Data","authors":"E. Levari,&nbsp;G. Stocchero,&nbsp;A. Cambria,&nbsp;G.M. Marchio,&nbsp;A. Coppola,&nbsp;M. Stefani,&nbsp;P. De Lutti,&nbsp;F. Donini,&nbsp;F. Ingenito,&nbsp;L. Bertoldi,&nbsp;C. Fait,&nbsp;L. Pecoraro,&nbsp;A. Anesi","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>In response to the escalating spread of Fentanyl and its associated risks of abuse and overdose, the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers' Department of Anti-Drug Policies and Other Addictions unveiled the «National Emergency Plan for Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids» on 12 March 2024. The aim of the Policies was to implement knowledge and focus on the subject, improving specific strategies and interventions spanning pharmacovigilance, drug checking services and enhanced toxicological testing of biological samples. Anticipating this need, our local surveillance system began in 2018 through a virtuous collaboration between Addiction Unit and the Toxicology Laboratory. Despite Italy’s low prevalence at the time, we initiated Fentanyl screening in response to emerging trends in the United States and Europe, establishing baseline data years before national policy implementation. This proactive monitoring has been reactivated since 2023, with enhanced protocols.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were collected in two phases: an initial 2018 screening and ongoing monitoring from 2023 onward. In 2018, 309 samples were tested to the immunimetric screening for Fentanyl; the positive samples were washed two times with Methanol and one time with Diethyl ether, then dried. The analyses were realized by UPLC-MS/MS. In 2023, 391 hair samples were collected for clinical purpose from the service of drug addiction (SERD) and from hospital health area in Trento area. The analyses were realized by LC-MS/MS to screen more than 140 NPS including synthetic cannabinoids and phenethylamines.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 309 samples collected and analyzed in 2018, 3 (0.97%) tested positive for Fentanyl. In 2023, 5 of 391 samples (1.28%) resulted positive. Preliminary data suggest Fentanyl use occurs primarily among young poly-substance users (demographic details will be presented). All identified cases received immediate risk counselling and treatment adjustments.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While Fentanyl prevalence remains low in this population, its detection confirms the importance of early surveillance systems, combined to an appropriate therapeutic interventions. These findings underscore the need for: (1) continued toxicological monitoring, (2) targeted prevention for young poly-substance users, and (3) integration of rapid testing into standard addiction care protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responding to Shifts in Regional Drug Markets: LC-MS/MS Method Development for Synthetic Opioids in Wastewater","authors":"M. Kuloglu Genc,&nbsp;L. Bijlsma,&nbsp;S. Mercan","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Following the changes in Afghanistan and the enforcement of opium bans, concern has grown over potential shifts in regional drug markets. For Türkiye, situated along major drug trafficking routes, this may open pathways for synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, its analogues, and nitazenes to emerge in the market. This study aims to develop a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for detecting selected synthetic opioids and to verify its integration with a previously validated SPE protocol assessing its applicability in routine wastewater analysis monitoring.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two reverse phase analytical columns (C18 and biphenyl stationary phases) were evaluated alongside various gradient elution profiles and mobile phases. Method performance was assessed based on resolution, peak shape, and signal intensity. The previously validated SPE protocol was verified through recovery studies and repeatability (intra- and inter-day precision) with LoD and LoQ values estimated using signal-to-noise. The final method was applied to 24-hour composite influent wastewater samples collected from two WWTPs in two different cities of Türkiye. For internal quality control, matrix-spiked samples at different concentrations were also analyzed, and analyte confirmation was based on retention time and ion ratio compliance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The optimized method provided sharp and well-separated peaks with high signal response for all target compounds. Verification of the sample preparation method demonstrated acceptable recoveries (70–120%) and intra- and inter-day precision (RSD &lt;15%) along with sensitive detection limits for selected synthetic opioids. The presence of analytes in authentic wastewater samples was successfully confirmed through consistent retention times and qualifier/quantifier ion ratios compared to QC samples.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This work presents a robust and sensitive approach suitable for routine WBE monitoring. Its application to influent wastewater demonstrates its potential to detect early trends in synthetic opioid presence within emerging risks in Türkiye’s evolving drug landscape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100235"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Significance of Conventional and Alternative Biological Matrices in Evaluating the Extend of Use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)","authors":"D. Florou,&nbsp;V.A. Boumba","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have flooded the illicit drug market, mimicked the effects of controlled substances while evading legal restrictions due to structural variations. Their widespread availability have led to significant public health concerns, including acute intoxication and fatalities. Consequently, developing effective detection methods is crucial to safeguard public health and enhance toxicological analysis capabilities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Conventional biological specimens include mainly blood and urine, while non-conventional mainly refer to hair. Hair testing is particularly beneficial for assessing past, chronic, sub-chronic, and, in certain cases, even acute exposure to xenobiotics, with a detection window extending up to several months. It is non-invasive, simple to collect, and allows for retrospective analysis. However, it is less effective for detecting acute exposure and may be influenced by environmental factors, leading to false results. Conversely, blood tests are effective for documenting recent drug use and are the only analyses that can correlate drug concentrations with symptomatology.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The selection between hair and blood testing for NPS detection hinges on the investigation's objectives, recent or historical substance use, cost, time, and invasiveness. Given the pervasive presence of NPS in various communities, hair analysis offers a valuable tool for assessing the extent of use among different populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP): the Geneva University Hospital model","authors":"F. Seragnoli","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) has been legal in Switzerland since 2014 under supervised exceptional medical use with MDMA, LSD and Psilocybin with case by case authorisations delivered from the Federal Office of Public Health. In particular, since 2021, we have implemented a clinical activity at Geneva University Hospital (HUG) for treatment resistant patients using LSD and psilocybin. We hereby present the treatment model we developed and the first clinical results on the treated patients’ population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Treatment resistant patients diagnosed with depression, anxiety and addiction followed a PAP protocol consisting in preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy framework was used to guide these interventions, in order for the psychedelic personal experience session to be inscribed within a psychotherapeutic process involving psychoeducation, objective clarification, and behavioral activation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We present preliminary data on symptom reduction gathered systematically with pre-post validated questionnaires. We discuss cognitive behavioral models to explain the specific characteristics of PAP like: insight, metacognition and general psychotherapeutic factors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>PAP is a safe and useful form of psychotherapy which can be applied routinely in a hospital clinical setting. PAP can be used for a variety of diagnoses with treatment resistant patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Criminalization of New Psychoactive Substances in Poland – Law in the Face of Changing Reality","authors":"K. Tkaczyk-Rymanowska","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, Poland, like many other European Union countries, has been faced with the phenomenon of the emergence of new psychoactive substances, the rapid chemical turnover of which and the circumvention of classic drug regulations have led to the need to revise the previous legislative approach and drug policy. The poster presents the development of legal instruments for the criminalization of trade in and possession of NPS in Poland. The main legal and practical problems related to the enforcement of regulations have been indicated, including difficulties in defining NPS, legislative delays, and limited effectiveness of repression. Additionally, the challenges related to keeping up with the changing chemical and market reality have been signaled. The conclusion proposes directions for reforms: strengthening the flexibility of the legislative system, developing prevention, and the need to integrating criminal actions with public health policy. Effective combating NPS requires not only repression, but also modern, interdisciplinary response tools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}