Critically discussing the trends surrounding novel psychoactive substances.

Abstract

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS), previously known as ‘legal highs’, have been common in the UK for many years (EMCDDA, 2018). The aim of this research work was to combine spectroscopic analysis with review of literature to assess the trends arising from the use of novel psychoactive substances in the UK. Handheld Raman Spectroscopy was used to analyse the contents of samples taken from the amnesty bin placed by Avon and Somerset constabulary at the Glastonbury Festival in 2011. These drug samples were then requested by Professor M. David. Osselton for analysis at Bournemouth University in 2011. The novel use of handheld Raman was utilised to test the limitations of the technique. It was also used to give primary information about the type of substances being used during this time. Of all the samples scanned, 48.5% were Raman active; spectra were yielded for all the Raman active substances. A review of the literature took place, with the use of Boolean operators to systematically search for contemporaneous literature. The use of key words, such as ‘novel’, ‘psychoactive’, ‘substances’, with defining key words such as, ‘prevalence’, ‘use’, to refine the articles for inclusion. By reviewing the literature it showed the need for intervention, how the government primarily responded and then how this finally culminated in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. With a combination of sciences and methods it has allowed for the critical discussion of the trends surrounding NPS and this thesis is the culmination of this work.