title: "Spice," "kryptonite," "black mamba": an overview of brand names and marketing strategies of novel psychoactive substances on the web.
abstract: Abstract Introduction: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) are often sold online as "legal" and "safer" alternatives to International Controlled Drugs (ICDs) with captivating marketing strategies. Our aim was to review and summarize such strategies in terms of the appearance of the products, the brand names, and the latest trends in the illicit online marketplaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scientific data were searched in PsychInfo and Pubmed databases; results were integrated with an extensive monitoring of Internet (websites, online shops, chat rooms, fora, social networks) and media sources in nine languages (English, French, Farsi, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese simplified/traditional) available from secure databases of the Global Public Health Intelligence Network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evolving strategies for the online diffusion and the retail of NPSs have been identified, including discounts and periodic offers on chosen products. Advertisements and new brand names have been designed to attract customers, especially young people. An increased number of retailers have been recorded as well as new Web platforms and privacy systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NPSs represent an unprecedented challenge in the field of public health with social, cultural, legal, and political implications. Web monitoring activities are essential for mapping the diffusion of NPSs and for supporting innovative Web-based prevention programmes.
authors.affiliation: a Principal Lecturer and Academic Research Lead, School of Life and Medical Sciences , University of Hertfordshire , Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valeriani
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corkery
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schifano
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D000067088:Direct-to-Consumer Advertising / Q000191:economics*; D004349:Drug Packaging; D064423:Drug Trafficking / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Internet monitoring; PIEDs; brand names; legal highs; marketing; novel psychoactive substances