Citation

Chatwin C. Int. J. Drug Policy 2016; 40: 111-116.

Affiliation

University of Kent, SSPSSR, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: c.chatwin@kent.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.11.002

PMID

27956185

Abstract

BACKGROUND: New psychoactive substances (NPS) are reported to be on the rise throughout Europe, and are often presented as the latest challenge facing drug-policy makers. At the European level, legislation on NPS has existed since 1998. Several evaluations, however, have suggested that this legislation is not effective and the European Commission has submitted a new proposal on NPS seeking to extend its powers in this area.

METHODS: This article critically evaluates the new proposal against its predecessor's three main criticisms: (i) being unable to tackle the large number of NPS because of lengthy European legislative approaches, (ii) being reactive rather than proactive, and (iii) lacking options for regulatory and control measures.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In determining whether or not European interventions can bring added value to what is being done at the national level, it finds that, while the new proposal is more efficient, it is not necessarily more effective, and that there is a disappointing focus on legal frameworks at the expense of research and harm reduction.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en