The rapid emergence and the diversity of available products, as well as the addictive, lethal and social consequences of NPS abuse have proved challenging for the Conventions and for European policymakers and lawmakers. In this context, this project constitutes an innovative research project in the framework of NPS abuse in order to give a rapid preventive response to the dynamic and changing drug illicit market. This proposal will improve the ability to early identify and assess 5 NPS

General and specific objectives of the action:

The General objective of this project is: To early identify and characterize those new synthetic psychostimulants and hallucinogens with high abuse liability.

This information will be provided to EU drug enforcement communities and networks, supporting rapid control measures by the EU and promoting a timely updated NPS legislation.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1) To select eight NPS (3 cathinone-, 2 phenethylamine- and 3 tryptamine-derivatives) based on the lack of scientific knowledge of them, their novelty, and their potential to induce drug dependence and/or hallucinogen effects.

2) To synthesize and characterize the selected NPS.

3) To design an analytical protocol allowing the detection of the selected NPS and their determination in biological samples and seized materials.

4) To characterize the mechanism of action of the selected NPS.

5) To study the psychostimulant and reinforcing effects of selected cathinones and phenethylamines

6) To study the abuse potential of the selected cathinones and phenethylamines

7) To study the hallucinogen properties of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives