title: New psychoactive substances: catalysing a shift in forensic science practice?
abstract: The analysis of substances of abuse remains one of the most matured areas in forensic science with a strong scientific basis, namely analytical chemistry. The current evolving drug markets, characterized by the global emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the need for forensic scientists to identify an unprecedented and ever-increasing number of NPS, presents a unique challenge to this discipline. This article looks at the current situation with NPS at the global level, and the challenges posed to the otherwise technically robust forensic science discipline of analysis of substances of abuse. It discusses the preparedness of forensic science to deal with the current situation and identifies the need for a shift in forensic science practice, especially one which embraces research and looks beyond normal casework in order to provide the much needed data for developing effective policy responses to the NPS problem.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Scientific Section, Research and Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna, Austria justice.tettey@unodc.org.
authors.forename: Justice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tettey
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Scientific Section, Research and Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crean
mesh_terms: D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D009307:National Academy of Sciences, U.S.; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: analysis of drugs; forensic science; new psychoactive substances; research