Effects of novel psychoactive substances on cognition and emotion
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cognitive and psychological characteristics of consumers of novel psychoactive substances
IRAS ID
233926
Contact name
Barbara Sahakian
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS; often incorrectly termed 'legal highs' and also 'club drugs') refer to new drugs that are designed to mimic the effects of 'classic' drugs of abuse. In 2016, a blanket ban came into force in the UK, which criminalised the distribution, sale and supply of these substances. However, recent statistics (2015/16) by European, American and UN authorities report that there has been an increase in the availability, use and harmful effects of these substances, particularly in young adult men. The total number of substances detected by enforcement and monitoring agencies rose from 166 in 2009 to more than 560 in 2015 (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2016) and the number of presentations in English drug treatment centres rose from 302 in 2013/14 to 2,041 in 2015/6 (NDTMS). Despite this, little is known about the effects of NPS on user's cognitive and social-emotional profile. This study will be conducted at the London Club Drug Clinic (http://clubdrugclinic.cnwl.nhs.uk/), which provides services for people who have begun to experience harms with their recreational drug use. Individuals attending clinic who report frequent NPS use will be asked to complete a single, three-hour session to complete a battery of computerised cognitive testing and interview of their drug use. These tests will help indicate if there are differences in cognitive processes (e.g. attention, memory), as well as social and emotional function (e.g. sensation-seeking, risk-taking) compared with individuals who frequently use NPS, but do not receive support from a clinic, and those who have never used novel or classic drugs. This study will help identify key differences between users and non-users of NPS and their effects of cognition and emotion, which have not yet been identified.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0453
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion