Synthetic drug cases exploding in Asia-Pac: UN report

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Synthetic drug cases exploding in Asia-Pac: UN report

S'pore ranks 3rd, with 12% of such new drugs in region reported to UN

Published on May 27, 2014 8:36 AM

The man-made chemicals in NPS (seen above) mimic the effects of class A drugs such as cocaine and cannabis. -- ST FILE PHOTO

By Lim Yan Liang

Singapore has come in third in the Asia-Pacific region for the number of "legal highs" reported to the United Nations in the last five years.

Surprise figures show that 12 per cent of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) were reported to the UN by the authorities here.

The man-made chemicals mimic the effects of class A drugs such as cocaine and cannabis.

Most new NPS - 31 per cent - were reported in Australia, followed by 17 per cent in New Zealand. The figures were revealed in a report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which said there is "a large and established market for NPS".

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