New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Reference Materials

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are a broad range of compounds that are not controlled by international drug control conventions, and in many cases are designed specifically to mimic the effects of banned drugs. They can encompass diverse drug types - including nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, hallucinogens, and synthetic opioids.

NPS are also characterised by the large number of new substances that emerge each year, with more than 1,200 identified by 2023 - or about four times more than the number of officially controlled compounds.

NPS research is focused on developing analytical techniques to keep up with this fast-evolving landscape, in order to better understand their pharmacological effects, metabolic pathways and health-related risks so that appropriate treatments and legal proceedings can be undertaken. However, the constant evolution of NPS, and the frequent emergence of new compounds in casework, presents us with unique scientific challenges.

We offer an extensive line of NPS reference materials and analytical standards to help laboratories meet these rapidly changing demands. Our range below includes NPS classes such as cathinones, fentanyls, nitazenes, phenethylamines, piperazines, synthetic cannabinoids, tryptamines and more - many of which are produced under the rigorous quality assurance standards set out in ISO 17034.