BACKGROUND: Legislative changes targeting novel psychoactive substance (NPS) use were introduced in Ireland over the summer of 2010 and resulted in closure of 90% of headshops. We sought to examine use of NPS among adolescents attending addiction treatment both before and after this legislation.
METHODS: We included all adolescents entering assessment at one outpatient service comparing the 6 months immediately prior to the legislation in May 2010 to the same 6-month period the following year. Clinicians identified problematic use of between one and four substances for each patient. Secondly, information was recorded on recent (past 3 months) use of NPS.
RESULTS: There were 94 treatment episodes included, with mean age of 16.8 years. Problematic use of any NPS fell from 14 patients (34%) in the pre-legislation period to zero (p<0.001). There was also a significant decline in recent use of any NPS (82% vs 28%, p<0.001). Recent use of cocaine and amphetamines also declined, but problematic use of these drugs was unchanged.
CONCLUSION: Use of NPS among adolescents attending drug and alcohol treatment was substantially reduced 6-12 months after the introduction of legislation prohibiting sale of NPS and resultant closure of most headshops.