VIENNA, Austria - September 2016: The Global SMART Update (Volume 16, September 2016) analyzes the latest NPS trends, public health threats, challenges and legal responses in light of the recent 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem.

Key features and trends of the NPS problem that are discussed include the challenges faced by several countries to achieve the identification and detection of NPS, risks to public health exacerbated by the paucity of toxicology data and measures such as legislative responses and international law enforcement cooperation initiatives implemented at the national and international level to address the issue. Following the main operational recommendations of the 2016 UNGASS related to addressing the threats of NPS in the framework of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the subsequent implementation of these recommendations will be key to catalyse and mobilise international action as a counter measure to address the emergence and challenges of NPS.