Psychiatrists and doctors receive training in new psychoactive substances and their effects

As part of the EU-ACT project, a set of training sessions have been delivered on the effects of new psychoactive substances (NPS).  Four training sessions were held as a refresher for a selection of specialists from the five participating countries – Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Pakistan – and so they could discuss the situations in their countries.
 The participating specialists will provide their services as trainers in this field in their home territories.

The activity involved around 20 psychiatrists and doctors specialising in treatment of the adverse effects of drug abuse from the five participating countries and was delivered by specialists from Novel Psychoactive Treatment: UK Network (NEPTUNE). It was attended by representatives of EU-ACT and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (MCDDA).

The sessions were an opportunity for a detailed analysis of the acute and chronic harm caused by psychoactive substances such as club drugs, gabapentinoids, opioids, benzodiazepines, ketamine and stimulants such as amphetamine, among others. The most appropriate treatments for these adverse effects were also discussed.