Study of the NPS (new psychoactive substances) market and its impact on Spanish youth.

Study of the NPS (new psychoactive substances) market and its impact on Spanish youth.

The study “Study of the Market for NPS (New Psychoactive Substances) and Their Impact on Spanish Youth” analyzes the phenomenon of new psychoactive substance use throughout Spain, with a particular focus on young people and stimulants from the synthetic cathinone family.

In recent years, harm reduction services, observatories, and early warning systems have detected a sustained increase in the availability and use of these substances, both in nightlife settings and in contexts of sexualized drug use. The NPS market is characterized by a supply logic based on constant chemical innovation and the rapid substitution of compounds in response to each new regulatory process, creating a “cat-and-mouse” dynamic that hinders monitoring and institutional response.

The research characterizes the consumption profiles, motivations, and contexts of NPS use among Spanish youth; it analyzes the risks and impacts on physical, mental, and social health, with toxicological uncertainty—stemming from the adulteration and substitution of substances—being the primary risk factor identified; and examines the market from production and distribution channels to sales through hybrid digital and in-person channels. Concurrently, the report evaluates existing institutional responses regarding prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and supply control, highlighting their limitations and emerging needs.

The research concludes with a set of evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening early warning systems, expanding substance analysis services, adapting prevention strategies to new contexts and profiles, and moving toward flexible intervention models capable of responding to a constantly evolving phenomenon.