NEPTUNE module 5: Chronic harms and management of depressants

This module is aimed at clinicians who are likely to come into contact with people presenting to hospital with chronic harms resulting from the use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and club drugs.

Specifically, this module provides learning about the impact of long-term and frequent use of depressant NPS and club drugs on physical and psychological health, with a focus on harmful use and dependence, and considers the management of these substance misuse-related problems.

This module will focus on the following central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs most commonly used in a 'club' context in the UK:

• GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and GBL (gamma-butyrolactone)
• ketamine and its analogues
• nitrous oxide.

This module will not address novel opioids (e.g. AH7921) and new benzodiazepines.