Synthetic drugs receive relatively little attention in policy and public debate. This is in spite of the fact that developments in this area are moving rapidly: new drugs are being designed, manufactured and sold at pace, both at home and abroad. At the same time, various types of synthetic drug use (such as at music festivals) have become normalised in society. Moreover, the Netherlands is a global player in terms of synthetic drugs as one of its main manufacturing hubs worldwide, which has consequences for our health, safety and the environment.
These developments raise questions about safe drug use, reducing drug use, combating illegal markets, crime, subversion and harmful effects on the environment. On account of the high volumes of synthetic drugs manufactured in the Netherlands, changes to its drugs policy may have a relatively significant impact worldwide. Consequently, the WRR has launched a new advisory project that focuses on the question: what options do policymakers have to limit the negative effects of the production, distribution and use of synthetic drugs?