News Release

New research explores the use of New Psychoactive Substances by young people

A research study into New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) -- formerly referred to as 'legal highs' - provides new evidence about why young people were attracted to the drugs, and the health and social risks associated with taking them

Peer-Reviewed Publication

National Institute for Health Research

A research study into New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) - formerly referred to as 'legal highs' - provides new evidence about why young people were attracted to the drugs, and the health and social risks associated with taking them.

The study was carried out by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Queen's University Belfast. The research findings recommend support using existing evidence-based interventions among young people and high risk populations.

It follows official statistics released today by NHS Digital about smoking, drinking and drug use among young people. These figures show that 6% of 11-15 year olds said they were offered NPS and 1% said they had taken them in the last year (3). Office of National Statistics figures released last week reported 125 deaths from NPS, double that of the previous year (4).

This newly published longitudinal study about NPS was commissioned and funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the nation's largest funder of health and care research, and published in the NIHR Journals Library.

This particular research leveraged data from 2,039 young people who were part of the larger Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS), which tracked a group of young people from ages 11, and examined in detail how they used alcohol and drugs as they grew up.

In this NIHR report, serious side effects associated with NPS usage were reported by those who had taken this class of drugs, including significant mental health problems and heart, liver, stomach and bladder issues. The research team found that NPS were always used within a poly drug use context (using more than one drug at the same time) in a range of ways and with alcohol, e.g., with mephedrone most snorted it, some made it into capsules and swallowed it and a small number injected it. Examples of drugs taken alongside it were cocaine, alcohol and some with other stimulants like MDMA. In 10% of NPS users surveyed, there was also evidence of moving from synthetic cannabinoids to heroin and vice versa - something that has not previously been reported.

Chief Investigator, Dr Kathryn Higgins, Reader from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and the Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation at Queen's University, said: "Our research explored in detail the varied motives, characteristics and lived experiences of young people using NPS, ranging from experimental users who liked the buzz or the fact that they were cheaper than other drugs to those who had become dependent and needed help from health and social care services. We discovered that there was a lack of knowledge about the negative impacts of taking these drugs due to them being new and constantly changing as well as being marketed at the time as 'legal highs' and perceived as 'safe'."

NPS are synthetic alternatives to traditional illegal drugs. In the UK, most were 'legal' until they were banned in May 2016 under the Psychoactive Substances Act. They include drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids - sometimes referred to as 'spice' - and mephedrone - also known as 'meow meow'.

The researchers used the data from the BYDS and statistical models to examine if those who reported using NPS had any different risk factors than those who used other drugs. The models, using the data from the 2,039 participants, showed that those who used NPS were mostly the same as those who were polydrug users of any type. To investigate further, 84 people were then reviewed through a series of in-depth interviews to share their experiences growing up, the circumstances that led them to taking NPS, and the age they first tried the drugs. As well as members of the BYDS cohort, individuals in this portion of the study included young people in prisons and those recruited from drug and alcohol services.

The research team categorised groups ranging from non-NPS users, to those who used in a limited experimental way, and those who reported being dependent on NPS. They were able to identify contributing risk factors for each group related to use of NPS, such as problems at school, peer pressure, alcohol use, family breakdown, trauma and lack of parental supervision and support.

In the report, the researchers make some suggestions about how to best respond to NPS use, including the use of peer educators in developing national drug education programmes, the expansion of harm reduction techniques, and research into the effectiveness of psychosocial and psychological interventions. They also call for public health interventions in high risk populations, highlighting that Public Health England are already working to improve things in prisons.

Co-investigator, Dr Nina O'Neill, Research Fellow from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's commented: "We were also able to look beyond the reported physiological effects of the drugs and learn more about the wider impact of NPS use on the individual, including their physical, psychological and social wellbeing."

"Our findings help to clearly explain why people use NPS in the ways that they do. We hope that this will help experts on NPS to consider interventions which would be most helpful in preventing people from using NPS in the future and reducing harms for people who already use NPS in the interests of better health across society as a whole," added Co-investigator, Dr Anne Campbell, Senior Lecturer from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, and the Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation at Queen's.

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The study was carried out when the Psychoactive Substances Act came into force changing the official classification of NPSs. The team say it is not possible to know what impact this has on the use of these drugs without longer term study.

The full report is available for download from the NIHR Journals Library: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/phr/1415301/#/

Other research the NIHR is funding and supporting in the area of drug abuse by young people includes:

- Professor Simon Thomas of Newcastle University is leading the IONA study. Patients aged over 16 who attend hospital with severe symptoms resulting from NPS or suspected heroin use will have the opportunity to take part in the NIHR-funded study, which aims to identify the substances involved that can cause adverse side effects. By identifying these substances, healthcare professionals will be able to act as quickly as possible so that steps can be taken to inform and protect people who might consider using these drugs. The NIHR is currently supporting the recruitment of patients onto the trial, which is taking place at sites across the UK.

- Professor Gunter Schumann at King's College London is using genetic, brain imaging and other data to understand how and why some people start using illegal drugs. The team is using hair analysis to map individuals' drug use over a 12 month period, as well as using online surveys and interviews to understand the different ways drugs are used over time. The work is building on the IMAGEN study, a European research project examining how biological, psychological, and environmental factors during adolescence may influence brain development and mental health.

Notes to Editor:

1. The research team from Queen's University Belfast included: Dr Kathryn Higgins, Dr Nina (Christina) O'Neill, Anne Campbell, Dr Francis O'Neill, Dr Leeanne O'Hara, Dr Mark McCann, Dr Tara O'Neill, and Professor Michael Clarke.

2. The Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS) was funded by the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D Division), Northern Ireland. BYDS was established to address the need for a longitudinal prospective cohort study to investigate the initiation, persistence and desistance of substance use behaviours (particularly problem drug use) from early adolescence to adulthood, with a view to informing interventions to prevent or reduce the harms associated with substance misuse.

3. NHS Digital - Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England 2018, Part 8: Drug use prevalence and consumption: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england/2018/part-8-drug-use-prevalence-and-consumption

4. ONS - Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2018 registrations: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2018registrations

About the National Institute for Health Research

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR:

- Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care

- Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research

- Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future

- Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services

- Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy

The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR supports applied health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries, using UK aid from the UK government.

About Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group of the UK's leading research-intensive universities. Queen's is ranked 173 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2020) and is a UK top ten research-intensive university (REF 2014/ Times Higher Education). Founded by Queen Victoria in 1845, as one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland, it became an independent university in its own right in 1908 and, today, combines its international academic reputation with its standing as a leader in innovation and education. The University has won six Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Further and Higher Education, five Times Higher Education Awards, and is currently the leading institution in the UK for the commercialisation of its intellectual property and for knowledge transfer partnerships. Four Global Research Institutes are the University's flagships for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal challenge, including inclusive secure and enriched societies, technology futures and a healthy global population.

For more information, please visit http://www.qub.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter @QUBelfast


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