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<p>To increase awareness of the risks of new psychoactive substances (NPS), the Government
recently introduced the Psychoactive Substances Bill, which will bring in a blanket
ban of NPS by prohibiting and disrupting production, distribution, sale and supply
in the UK. The Bill will give police and other law enforcement agencies greater powers
to tackle the trade in NPS, targeting suppliers who profit from their sale with complete
disregard for the potential risks and consequences. As the Bill passes through parliament
there will be various communication and media opportunities to raise awareness of
the dangers of NPS.</p><p>There is a wide-ranging cross-Government programme of work
in place to tackle new psychoactive substances (NPS), including activity to raise
awareness and tackle use amongst young people. For example, we have:</p><p>• in March
2015, published a resource pack, written in partnership with front line practitioners,
to enable those working with young people to have conversations with NPS users and
challenge their drug use by raising awareness of the risks and consequences.</p><p>•
delivered a new online resilience building resource, ‘Rise Above’, aimed at 11 to
16-year-olds, which provides resources to help develop skills to make positive choices
for their health, including avoiding drug use.</p><p>• continued to update FRANK,
the Government’s drugs information and advice service, to reflect new and emerging
patterns of drug use and evolve to remain in line with young people’s media habits.</p><p>•
the Home Office Forensic Early Warning System (FEWS) was set up in January 2011 to
bolster national capacity to identify new psychoactive substances (NPS) available
in the UK. It brings together expertise from forensic laboratories and chemical standard
suppliers, UK-wide law enforcement agencies and experts in the field. FEWS continues
to enable us to effectively assess the availability of NPS and take appropriate action.</p><p>•
every year since 2009, Ministers have written to approximately 50 music festival organisers
highlighting NPS dangers and calling on them to adopt a ‘no-legal highs’ policy for
their festivals.</p>
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