Diffusion of New Psychoactive Substances: understanding population motives, harms and intervention needs
type: CreativeWork
description: Background Although there is a growing body of literature surrounding new psychoactive substances (NPS), and reasons for general use have been described, there is little understanding as to why certain NPS spread through user populations and become popular. This research used Rogers’ 1962 diffusion of innovations theory (DOI) to help better understand the NPS market and how it is shaped and characterised. Objective The aim of this research was to explore the diffusion of NPS in the UK and why different NPS diffuse and others fail to do so, to identify appropriate public health interventions to reduce harm. Methodology A mixed methods approach was undertaken, which comprised four studies. The first study involved a critical analysis of the appropriateness of Rogers’ DOI to explain the diffusion of NPS. This study was followed by two sets of interviews. The first interview study was conducted with NPS online retailers based in the UK. The second interview study involved interviews with NPS professionals including law enforcement professionals, drug policy organisations and NPS early warning system representatives from the UK, wider Europe, America and Australasia. These findings were analysed using thematic analysis. The final study was an online questionnaire and choice-based conjoint analysis with UK pre-existing recreational drug users aged between 18 and 35. These findings were analysed using Latent Class Analysis. Results The DOI was found to be applicable for the diffusion of an NPS product. However, the theory should be used in application to different individual NPS; NPS should not be classed as a homogenous group of substances and NPS users should not be classed as a homogenous group either. It was found that the theory should be updated in relation to NPS to include the influence of the internet. The key reason for the diffusion of an NPS was found to be the psychopharmacological effects of a product. However, there should also be an acknowledgment of the im…
abstract: Background Although there is a growing body of literature surrounding new psychoactive substances (NPS), and reasons for general use have been described, there is little understanding as to why certain NPS spread through user populations and become popular. This research used Rogers’ 1962 diffusion of innovations theory (DOI) to help better understand the NPS market and how it is shaped and characterised. Objective The aim of this research was to explore the diffusion of NPS in the UK and why different NPS diffuse and others fail to do so, to identify appropriate public health interventions to reduce harm. Methodology A mixed methods approach was undertaken, which comprised four studies. The first study involved a critical analysis of the appropriateness of Rogers’ DOI to explain the diffusion of NPS. This study was followed by two sets of interviews. The first interview study was conducted with NPS online retailers based in the UK. The second interview study involved interviews with NPS professionals including law enforcement professionals, drug policy organisations and NPS early warning system representatives from the UK, wider Europe, America and Australasia. These findings were analysed using thematic analysis. The final study was an online questionnaire and choice-based conjoint analysis with UK pre-existing recreational drug users aged between 18 and 35. These findings were analysed using Latent Class Analysis. Results The DOI was found to be applicable for the diffusion of an NPS product. However, the theory should be used in application to different individual NPS; NPS should not be classed as a homogenous group of substances and NPS users should not be classed as a homogenous group either. It was found that the theory should be updated in relation to NPS to include the influence of the internet. The key reason for the diffusion of an NPS was found to be the psychopharmacological effects of a product. However, there should also be an acknowledgment of the im…
author: Wallis, LAE
keywords: RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
date published: 2018-08
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:30:25Z
provider: Liverpool Jon Moores University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Liverpool John Moores University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.24377/researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk.00009180