[New psychoactive substances in emergency medicine]

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Pharmacology
• Synthetic Drug Research

Context:

• New psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a growing global challenge.
• Their "newness" as narcotics, often with altered chemical structures, leads to unpredictable and potent effects.
• Prevalence is increasing, with 2.6% of German adults reporting NPS experience in 2018.

Purpose:

• To highlight the challenges in identifying and treating NPS intoxication.
• To underscore the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods for NPS.
• To introduce a practical clinical classification for NPS.

Summary:

• NPS are a heterogeneous group of synthetic drugs that mimic known narcotics but often possess significantly increased effects due to novel chemical structures.
• These substances present diagnostic and treatment challenges for physicians due to their diversity and unpredictable intoxication profiles, often complicated by mixed exposures.
• Standard rapid tests are insufficient, necessitating systemic toxicological analysis, which is not always readily available.

Impact:

• Improved clinical recognition and management of NPS intoxication.
• Enhanced understanding of the risks associated with novel psychoactive substances.
• Development of more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for NPS-related emergencies.