MR. Varì | S. Zaami | R. Pacifici | S. Pichini | P. Berretta | M. Sciotti | R. Tittarelli | N. La Maida | A. Tini | E. Marinelli | E. Buscaglia | E. Brambilla | G. Scaravaggi | CA. Locatelli | FP. Busardò | M. Cavallo | S. Graziano
Introduction
the abuse of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) has been a major issue since the 1990s, due to the significant impact this phenomenon has on the society and public health. The Italian legislation, in line with the European legislation, is aimed to limit the NPS use in the Country through different intervention strategies.
Methods: the Department for Anti-Drug Policies (DPA) of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, has activated in Italy the National Early Warning System (SNAP) on NSP reporting, aimed at the early detection of potentially health-threatening phenomena related to the appearance of NPSs in the market. A second aim of the SNAP is the promotion of the technical-analytical expertise of laboratories for the detection of these substances.
Since June 2016, the DPA, where the National Focal Point (NFP) for the verification of the phenomenon of drug dependence is established, has entrusted the coordination of SNAP with the National Centre for Addiction and Doping (NCAD) of the “Istituto Superiore di Sanità”. The Centre works with several partners, including the Pavia Poison Control Centre for clinical toxicology, the Unit of Forensic Toxicology of Sapienza University of Rome for bio-toxicological aspects, and the Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services for national coordination of seizures operated by law enforcement agencies. The SNAP is an important tool for identifying and notifying the spread of NSPs in our Country very rapidly.