Monitoring the internet for emerging psychoactive substances available to Australia: The first 12 months

Introduction: Recent years have seen rapid expansion in the number of novel psychoactive substances on the market. While some use has been captured in Australian consumer surveys and wastewater studies, there is little information about the products that are available to Australia. Methods: Following methodology fi rst employed by the European Psychonaut project, systematic monthly internet monitoring for emerging psychoactive substances (EPS) was conducted. Key substance terms were identifi ed and each were run through the three most popular search engines. Webstores identifi ed through searches were tested to determine if they sold stimulant, entactogen and psychedelic EPS to Australia. These stores, and the products available, were monitored on an ongoing basis. This process was repeated monthly. Internet search numbers for these products were examined over time using commercial tools. Results: In excess of 30 stores were identifi ed selling products to Australia, although this fl uctuates, with an average of fi ve new shopfronts appearing each month as well as new innovations in product marketing. More than 300 non-cannabinoid EPS are available to Australia, with 1–2 totally novel chemical compounds available each month. More than 25 thousand searches for these products emanate from Australia per month. Discussion: This market is fast-paced as retailers strive to beat both regulatory processes and competitors, and several of the novel substances identifi ed have carry clear potential for neurological harm. Ongoing attention to these markets is crucial to inform clinical practice as well as to provide early warning of substances that have potential to cross into mainstream traditional drug markets