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New Psychoactive Substances and British Drug Policy: a view from the cyber psychonauts

O'Brien, Kate, Chatwin, Caroline, Jenkins, Charlie, Measham, Fiona (2015) New Psychoactive Substances and British Drug Policy: a view from the cyber psychonauts. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 22 (3). pp. 217-223. ISSN 0968-7637. (doi:10.3109/09687637.2014.989959) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:49159)

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https://doi.org/10.3109/09687637.2014.989959

Abstract

Aims: (i) To collect data on the consumption patterns, purchase patterns and motivations of the online NPS community, and (ii) engage this specific group of NPS users in an exploration of recent policy developments in the UK focusing on their experiences of new legislative controls and the perceived harms they may cause, and eliciting their suggestions for future policy developments in this area. Methods: We employed an exploratory online methodology comprising a survey and participatory online research designed to interact and engage with experienced users of NPS. Findings: The findings of our small-scale exploratory study illustrate that what we term the cyber-psychonauts are well equipped to make a valuable contribution to NPS policy debates in general, and are ideally placed to report on the effects of recent policy changes on NPS-related harms in particular. The majority of NPS users in our study supported the introduction of a regulated market for NPS, which would not criminalise users and which would focus on the reduction of NPS-related harm. Conclusions: We argue that the cyber-psychonauts are well placed to contribute to NPS-related drug policy debates and, furthermore, that there may be a role for them in disseminating emerging information about NPS-related harm.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3109/09687637.2014.989959
Uncontrolled keywords: Harm reduction, NPS, policy, users-view, youth and drugs
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Lucie Patch
Date Deposited: 25 Jun 2015 09:48 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 10:58 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/49159 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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