For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/1423
18 November 2020
VIENNA, 18 November (United Nations Information Service) - The International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is the leading international forum for NPS, attracting hundreds of participants worldwide. This year's conference will take place virtually from 18-19 November 2020 and is jointly organised by the International Society for the Study of Emerging Drugs (ISSED), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), University of Hertfordshire (UH) and The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE).
Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) detected around the world. The emergence of new substances and the continued growth of the NPS market have become a policy challenge and a major international concern.
"Over 1,000 individual NPS have been reported by 126 Member States in the past 10 years. It is important to be able to identify the ones which are harmful and take them off the market to protect human health. The UNODC Early Warning Advisory and the UN Synthetic Drugs Toolkit are helping us build on robust science to translate early warning into early action, to save lives," said Justice Tettey, Chief of UNODC's Laboratory and Scientific Services.
The UNODC Early Warning Advisory is an online portal that provides access to basic information on NPS. In addition, registered users can also access specific information covering trend data on emergence and persistence, chemical details on individual substances, supporting documentation on laboratory analysis and legislative responses.
For two days a year, the International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances brings together renowned scientists, researchers and policymakers around the world to exchange evidence-based information on NPS and latest trends of use, share analytical approaches to NPS detection and identification as well as explore policy and legislative responses to NPS.
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For further information please visit:
VII International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
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For further information please contact:
Brian
Hansford,
Chief, UNODC Advocacy Section
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3325
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org
