1. THE GERMAN NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE LAW (NPSG): PERCEIVED AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES IN THE FIRST STAGE OF IMPLEMENTATION.
Tessa-Virginia Hannemann 1
Daniela Piontek 1
Institut für Therapieforschung München
1 IFT Institut für Therapieforschung, Munich, Germany
2ND EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOURS AND DEPENDENCIES
OCTOBER 2017, LISBON
PAPER SESSION 7: NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES (NPS) - A CHALLENGE FOR RESPONSES
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

2. BACKGROUND 2013 „Psychoactive Substance Act“:
Institut für Therapieforschung München
BACKGROUND
2013 „Psychoactive Substance Act“:
all new substances are to be subject to a risk assessment before being sold, analog to medicines.
Cost lies with producers and retailers.
Problematic: many of the parameters assessed can only be evaluated after clearance (Wilkins, );
and some test to determine addiction potential are not admitted in the assessment (Reuter & Pardo, a)
2016 „ Psychoactive Substances Act“
Any substance „capable of producing a psychoactive effect in the person that consumes it” is prohibited
Psychoactive effect is defined as anything that stimulates or depressed the consumers nervous system or alters the mental functioning and/or emotional state.
Exceptions are alcohol, tobacco, medicines, substances, used for research purposes and previously controlled substances
Problematic: difficult to define psychoactive, punishment not necessarily in relation to the risk of the substance (Reuter & Pardo, 2017b)
2016 “Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Verbreitung neuer psychoaktiver Stoffe (NpSG)”
entire substance groups are outlawed based on their composition
mainly cannabinoids, phenethylamines and cathinones
focus on trafficking
ability to confiscate substances, esp. smoking mixtures and bath salts
Exceptions are NPS that have already been outlawed via “traditional legislation”
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Are users aware of the new legislation?
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Are users aware of the new legislation?
What changes in the general trends in drug use are anticipated with the new legislation?
What changes in personal drug use are anticipated with the new legislation?
What changes in adverse consequences due to NPS consumption are anticipated?
What are the substances being taken by NPS users (established and new)?
What are the sources used by users?
What are the risks and harms perceived in taking established substances and NPS?
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

4. METHODS Two phases first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
Institut für Therapieforschung München
METHODS
Two phases
first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
after 9-12 months of new legislation – Sept.- Dec. 2017
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

5. METHODS Two phases first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
Institut für Therapieforschung München
METHODS
Two phases
first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
after 9-12 months of new legislation – Sept.- Dec. 2017
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

6. METHODS Two phases Online survey
Institut für Therapieforschung München
METHODS
Two phases
first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
after 9-12 months of new legislation – Sept.- Dec. 2017
Online survey
Consumption of established substances (litetime, 12-month and 30-day prevalence, 30-day frequency)
Consumption of NPS (type and name, litetime, 12-month and 30-day prevalence, 30-day frequency
Supply sources for NPS
Money spent /money willing to be spent on NPS
Risks associated/perceivede with NPS consumption
Knowledge about the new legislation
Assumed changes in personal,/general drug use behaviour, in drug market due to new legislation
Sociodemographics
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

7. METHODS Two phases Online survey Sample:
Institut für Therapieforschung München
METHODS
Two phases
first 4 months -- Nov.2016 – March 2017
after 9-12 months of new legislation – Sept.- Dec. 2017
Online survey
Consumption of established substances (litetime, 12-month and 30-day prevalence, 30-day frequency)
Consumption of NPS (type and name, litetime, 12-month and 30-day prevalence, 30-day frequency
Supply sources for NPS
Money spent /money willing to be spent on NPS
Risks associated/perceivede with NPS consumption
Knowledge about the new legislation
Assumed changes in personal,/general drug use behaviour, in drug market due to new legislation
Sociodemographics
Sample:
NPS consumers familiar with NpSG
valid data sets
NPS consumers n
241 87 65
% of total
100%
36.1%
27%
⌀ age (SD)
25.4 (8.6)
25.7 (9.5)
25.8 (8.6)
% female
33.2%
21%
14.3%
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

8. RESULTS Substances consumed Lisbon Addictions 24. – 26. October 2017
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Substances consumed
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

9. RESULTS Use of NPS Frequency 12-months 30-days NPS 36.1% 19.9%
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Use of NPS
Frequency
12-months 30-days
(mean, 30-day)
NPS
36.1%
19.9%
SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
7.5%
5.0%
19.9
SMOKING MIXTURES
7.9%
3.3%
17.1
BATH SALTS
2.1%
1.2%
4.3
RESEARCH CHEMICALS
27.4%
14.1%
5.0
OTHERS
5.8%
3.7%
8.9
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

10. RESULTS Use of NPS Most frequently named NPS 1p-LSD O-PCE 5F-ADB ODT
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Use of NPS
Most frequently named NPS
1p-LSD
O-PCE
5F-ADB
ODT
U-47700
2C-B
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

11. RESULTS Use of NPS Most frequently named NPS 1p-LSD O-PCE 5F-ADB ODT
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Use of NPS
Most frequently named NPS
1p-LSD
O-PCE
5F-ADB
ODT
U-47700
2C-B
drug legislation (BtMG)
illegal under NpSG currently legal
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

12. RESULTS Use of NPS Most frequently named NPS 1p-LSD O-PCE 5F-ADB ODT
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Use of NPS
Most frequently named NPS
1p-LSD
O-PCE
5F-ADB
ODT
U-47700
2C-B
drug legislation (BtMG)
illegal under NpSG currently legal
àNone conrolled under not the NpSG
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

13. RESULTS Use of NPS Most frequently named NPS 1p-LSD O-PCE 5F-ADB ODT
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Use of NPS
Most frequently named NPS
1p-LSD
O-PCE
5F-ADB
ODT
U-47700
2C-B
drug legislation (BtMG)
illegal under NpSG
currently legal
àNone conrolled under not the NpSG
Respondents spent an average of €36.94 (SD= 71.32, 0-500) per month on NPS Willing to pay average of €79.33 (SD=160.62; )per month
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

14. Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Associated risks of NPS (0 = not at all likely, 10 = very likely)
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

15. RESULTS Knowledge on NpSG – “Do you know of the NpSG”?
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
Knowledge on NpSG – “Do you know of the NpSG”?
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

16. RESULTS What changes in consumption do you anticipate due to NpSG…
Institut für Therapieforschung München
RESULTS
What changes in consumption do you anticipate due to NpSG…
….in the general population
… concerning your personal consumption
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

17. OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
Institut für Therapieforschung München
OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
What we learned from the first phase
Only few participants used NPS, even less exclusively
NPS users estimated the risks similarly to entire sample
Of NPS used, Research Chemicals were most popular
Most popular RC are not controlled under the NpSG
Most users anticipate little to no change in their personal drug use and that of the general population due to the NpSG
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

18. OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
Institut für Therapieforschung München
OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
What we learned from the first phase
Only few participants used NPS, even less exclusively
NPS users estimated the risks similarly to entire sample
Of NPS used, Research Chemicals were most popular
Most popular RC are not controlled under the NpSG
Most users anticipate little to no change in their personal drug use and that of the general population due to the NpSG
Data now gathered will bring more insight into the effectiveness of the new legislation from the viewpoint of users.
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

19. OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
Institut für Therapieforschung München
OUTLOOK AND DISCUSSION
What we look forward to
What influence is perceived by consumers?
Contact with law enforcement?
Shift in substances used?
less NPS, more established substances?
Shift in supply sources?
Shift in awareness?
Currently running second phase (until End of 2017)
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

20. Tessa-Virginia Hannemann
Institut für Therapieforschung München
Institut für Therapieforschung / Leopoldstraße 175/ München Tel +49 (0)
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

21. REFERENCES Literature Pictures (in order of appearance)
Institut für Therapieforschung München
Literature •
Reuter, P., & Pardo, B. (2017a). New psychoactive substances: Are there any good options for regulating new psychoactive substances? International Journal of Drug Policy, 40,
Reuter, P., & Pardo, B. (2017b). Can new psychoactive substances be regulated effectively? An assessment of the British Psychoactive Substances Bill. Addiction, 112, •
Pictures (in order of appearance)
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

22. Lisbon Addictions 24. – 26. October 2017 Lisbon, Portugal
Institut für Therapieforschung München
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

23. Lisbon Addictions 24. – 26. October 2017 Lisbon, Portugal
Institut für Therapieforschung München
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal

24. Lisbon Addictions 24. – 26. October 2017 Lisbon, Portugal
Institut für Therapieforschung München
Lisbon Addictions
24. – 26. October 2017
Lisbon, Portugal