This document evaluates the effectiveness of the Psychoactive Substances Act (PSA) in tackling new psychoactive substances (NPS), commonly known as 'legal highs.' It outlines the various supply routes for NPS, the statistical impact of enforcement measures, and data on related harms and usage trends. The document also touches on educational and treatment provisions necessary for addressing the challenges posed by NPS.

1. PSA: Measuring its
Effectiveness
Director of Policy and Communications – Jeremy Sare

2. NewPsychoactiveSubstances(NPS)
Once known as ‘legal highs.’

3. Routes of NPS Supply
Headshops Online market Street trade

4. Psychoactive Substances Act (1)
• Journey to PSA
• MDA/TCDOs
• Expert Panel
• Home Affairs
Committee
• ACMD
• Amendments
• Education and
Treatment provision

5. PsychoactiveSubstancesAct (2)
• No classification,
wide range of harms
• Supply offences not
possession
• Proving
psychoactivity
• Harms unchanged in
high risk groups
• Enforcement
offences and figures

6. Impact on Supply of NPS
Darknet
Existing
supply
500
headshops
Online
market
Street
trade

7. NPSMeasuresand Indicators
• Home Office Figures (Nov
2016)
• Met Police 160 Arrests
(May to Nov 2016)
• Prison Seizures - RAPt
(November 2016)
• Ambulance Callouts
Double (May 2017)
• Prison Ombudsman - 58
fatalities (2013-6)

8. NPSMeasuresandIndicators(2)
• Addaction Report 50%+
drug admissions 2006-16
• RIDR (March 2017)
• CS E&W 2015/6: 0.7%
adults, 3.6% males 16-24
• Drugwise Report (Feb
2017)
• Addaction Report Young
People (March 2017)
• Internet Monitoring
Retail Websites,
Dark Web, News sites

9. Measuring the Progress of
PSA 2016 - APPG
Street
dealing Availability
Online
trade
High
street
trade
Dark
netAvailability
Education Prevention

10. StatutoryReview