Why you should read this article:

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To enhance your awareness of the categories, risks and effects of various new psychoactive substances

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To recognise the challenges involved in identifying new psychoactive substances

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To consider psychosocial and pharmacological interventions that you could use with people who misuse new psychoactive substances

The use of new psychoactive substances is a growing concern across healthcare services in the UK. To date, more than 1,000 types of new psychoactive substances have been identified and they have a wide range of effects, potency and mechanisms of action, which can result in overdose and death.

This article reviews the challenges experienced by nurses including in identifying new psychoactive substances, their associated risks and various psychosocial and pharmacological interventions. Currently, evidence surrounding the appropriate nursing interventions required for the misuse of new psychoactive substances is limited. Further research and training opportunities are required for nurses to manage service users who present having taken new psychoactive substances, particularly in hospital, substance misuse and mental health settings.