A new online system has been launched by Public Health England (PHE) to improve monitoring of the negative effects of new psychoactive substances (NPS).
Last year, according to the 2015 to 2016 Crime Survey for England and Wales, one in 40 young adults aged 16 to 24 took an NPS.
The Report Illicit Drug Reaction (RIDR) system is being piloted by PHE with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help healthcare staff share best treatment practice.
RIDR will allow professionals to communicate across various settings, including A&E, sexual health clinics, mental health services, prison health services, prisons, drug treatment services and GP surgeries.
Director of alcohol, drugs and tobacco at PHE Rosanna O’Connor said: ‘The contents of NPS frequently change and their effects can be dangerous and unpredictable. These substances can cause serious problems to both mental and physical health.'
There is evidence of widespread NPS use among vulnerable adults such as prisoners and homeless people. While specialist services respond to NPS abuse, PHE said its effects are often poorly understood in frontline healthcare services and there is little guidance available to them.
‘Last year’s ban has helped reduce their easy availability, but we are still seeing the most vulnerable groups suffering the greatest harm from these substances,’ added Ms O’Connor.
The UK-wide RIDR system will be accessible to all frontline health staff, with information about the drugs and their effects to be recorded anonymously using an online portal.
Data from RIDR will be analysed by experts to identify patterns of symptoms and harm, then used to inform treatment guidance and help staff deal quicker with unknown substances and improve patient safety.
‘The new RIDR system will help health staff better deal with the emerging challenges we are seeing,’ says Ms O’Connor. ‘Over time it will greatly increase our knowledge of these new substances and ultimately improve patient care.’