The Rise of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
Imagine being able to purchase a drug online and have it delivered right to your doorstep. This isn’t just a single option; there are hundreds of them, known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Their presence continues to grow, posing a significant challenge.
These substances are created with the clear objective of mimicking the effects of more familiar drugs like cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), or LSD. However, their chemical structure is slightly altered to circumvent existing laws. The misconception that they are “legal” can create a false sense of security, but the reality is quite different: these substances are poorly researched, and safety information about them is largely unknown.
The Digitalization of Narcotraffic
Traditionally, buying controlled substances involves knowing someone in your neighborhood who sells them and engaging in risky activities, both legally and physically. While there are ways to acquire them more anonymously and securely online, this requires access to the deep web and knowledge of cryptocurrencies.
With NPS, however, the process is different. Since they are not illegal, anyone can easily purchase them online using just a credit card and an address, similar to buying any other product. They are shipped via postal services or international logistics systems. The packaging often includes warnings like “not for human consumption” or mundane labels such as “bath salts.”
Bath Salts: The Competition to Cocaine, Amphetamines, and MDMA
Currently, a group of substances known as synthetic cathinones or “bath salts” is giving cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA a run for their money. They are the most popular modern stimulants in Spain and have firmly established themselves in the market.
Within this family, mefedrona stands out as the most popular. It was first sold online in 2007 as “legal MDMA.” Its euphoric effects, heightened music appreciation, empathy, and subtle sexual stimulation led to its popularity in party scenes. Moreover, the duration of its effects is shorter, encouraging repeated use during a single session and increasing risks. Following its prohibition, the rate of new cathinone emergence to fill this market niche has been high.
Festival Drugs: The Unregulated Market
What happened last year at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival? As spring arrives, music festivals usually emerge. It’s not uncommon for attendees to seek a “pasti” alongside alcohol and tobacco to “enhance their experience.” MDMA is often the drug of choice in these contexts. Unfortunately, in an unregulated market like illegal drugs, these pills lack the quality control that legal drugs or medications have.
This lack of control makes drug adulteration a common practice in narcotraffic to cut costs, enhance effects, or avoid legal consequences. New drugs become very attractive in this scenario: they’re cheaper, easier to obtain, and in many cases, still “legal.” This makes them an ideal replacement for popular traditional substances like MDMA.
This was the case last year at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, one of Spain’s most significant music festivals. A pink, square pill was sold as MDMA but analyzed by Energy Control’s stationary service to contain clefedrona, a synthetic cathinone mimicking MDMA’s effects. This means someone could have unknowingly consumed a new drug, significantly increasing health risks.
Beyond the Taboo: Talking About Drugs to Save Lives
The consumption of stimulants is growing annually, and so is their production. Cathinones have solidified their position in the market to meet this increasing global demand.
In 2022, around 73 million people worldwide consumed amphetamines, cocaine, or ecstasy. This demonstrates that the “with or without drugs” debate is outdated; drug consumption is an established reality.
When discussing the dangers of drug use, we often focus on addiction. However, the reality is broader. Even without becoming addicted, drug consumption can negatively impact physical and mental health, affect work or studies, strain personal relationships, and cause economic issues, among other problems.
The safest way to avoid the risks of drug consumption is not to consume them. However, if someone decides to use drugs, it’s crucial to understand the risks and have information on how to minimize them, as no one plans to end up in emergency care while partying.
The Paradox of Prohibition
Prohibition-based policies alone fail to reduce consumption, trafficking, or associated harms. In fact, they can have the opposite effect: they encourage the creation of new substances designed to evade the law, about which we know even less, thus increasing health risks for consumers.
Therefore, it’s necessary to break the taboo and discuss drugs. This isn’t about promoting their use but acknowledging a reality and advocating for strategies based on prevention, harm reduction, and, in some cases, the regulation of substances with solid scientific and medical knowledge.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are NPS? New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are newly designed drugs that mimic the effects of more familiar substances like cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), or LSD but with slight chemical modifications to circumvent existing laws.
- Why are NPS a concern? NPS are poorly researched, and safety information about them is largely unknown. Their constant evolution makes them difficult to control, as they are quickly replaced when prohibited.
- How are NPS distributed? Due to their “legal” status, NPS can be easily purchased online using a credit card and an address, similar to buying any other product. They are shipped via postal services or international logistics systems.
- What are synthetic cathinones or “bath salts”? Synthetic cathinones, often marketed as “bath salts,” are a group of substances competing with traditional drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA. They are the most popular modern stimulants in Spain.
- Why are unregulated drugs dangerous? Unregulated drugs lack quality control, making adulteration a common practice in narcotraffic. This increases the risk of consuming harmful substances without knowledge.
- How can drug consumption impact health and life? Drug consumption, even without addiction, can negatively affect physical and mental health, work or studies, personal relationships, and economic stability.
- What’s the solution to drug-related issues? Breaking the taboo around drugs and advocating for prevention, harm reduction strategies, and regulation of substances with solid scientific and medical knowledge are crucial.
