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Public Health England launches online reporting system to tackle effects of new psychoactive substances (23 March 2017)

Date: 23/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Public Health England launches online reporting system to tackle effects of new psychoactive substances

Public Health England (PHE) has launched a new online reporting system to help tackle harms from new psychoactive substances (NPS).

The new online system – Report Illicit Drug Reaction – is designed to improve clinical knowledge of the harmful effects of new psychoactive substances.

According to the 2015 to 2016 Crime Survey for England and Wales, in 2016 one in 40 (2.5%) young adults aged 16 to 24 took a new psychoactive substance.

There is also evidence of widespread use among vulnerable adults such as prisoners and homeless people.

While specialist services are responding to a rise in the use of new psychoactive substances, PHE says the harms these cause are often poorly understood in frontline healthcare services – and there is little guidance available to them.

PHE in collaboration with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is piloting a national system to help better monitor the negative effects of NPS and share best treatment practice across a variety of settings – including A&E, sexual health clinics, mental health services, prison health services, drug treatment services and GP surgeries.

The UK-wide, easy to use Report Illicit Drug Reaction (RIDR) system will be accessible to all frontline health staff – information about the drug and its effects will be recorded anonymously using an online portal.

Data from the tool will be analysed by experts to identify patterns of symptoms and harms, which will be used to inform treatment guidance and help staff deal more quickly with unknown substances and improve patient safety.

Director of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at PHE, Rosanna O’Connor, said:

“The contents of NPS frequently change and their effects can be dangerous and unpredictable – these substances can cause serious problems to both mental and physical health.

“Last year’s ban has helped reduce their easy availability, but we are still seeing the most vulnerable groups – particularly the homeless, prisoners and some young people – suffering the greatest harm from these substances.

“The new RIDR system will help health staff better deal with the emerging challenges we are seeing.

“We want to encourage all frontline staff in settings – such as A&E, sexual health clinics, prisons, drug and mental health services – to use the system, which over time will greatly increase our knowledge of these new substances and ultimately improve patient care.”


Emergency Medicine Consultant, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr Sarah Elise Finlay, added:

“The information and advice provided by this new system will ultimately ease some of the burden and stress of managing those tricky overdose and poisoning cases in the early hours over the weekend in emergency settings.

“Emergency services are facing significant pressure, which is why we’ve made the RIDR system as easy as possible for health staff.

“It’s great to know that, in future, help will be at hand for health staff dealing with the harms of these often unknown new drugs.”


More information, including on how to register, is available on the RIDRwebsite.

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving drugs offences, including possession, supply, or manufacturing or distributing Class A and Class B drugs or psychoactive substances.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on all drugs offences, call Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.


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