The 2013 survey focusses on young people and the rise in their use of new synthetic drugs. Not many are coming forward to services – but outreach work tells a different story.
New synthetic drugs (also called ‘legal highs’ or ‘new/novel psychoactive substances’) are increasingly becoming part of the drug menu for young people, because they are cheap, readily available and potent. Druglink gathered information from 25 drug agencies in England, Wales and Scotland to create a snapshot of the prevalence and nature of new synthetic drug use among a new generation of young people. The research also aimed to gauge how services are adapting to this challenge.