On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

Vyacheslav Adamovich

UDC

343.2

VAK Russia

5.1.4

ON THE GENERAL LEGAL NATURE OF NEW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND ANALOGUES OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

АА Аа

Published in Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia · Pages 83–90 · Rubric: CRIMINAL LAW SCIENCES

Received: 14.03.2025 Accepted: 25.12.2025 Published: 30.12.2025 Language of publication: RUS

Authors

Vyacheslav Adamovich

Saint Petersburg University of the Ministry Internal Affairs of Russian Federation postgraduate · kafedra ugolovnogo prava

ABSTRACT

Introduction. The correct application of criminal law provisions that establish liability for drug-related offences is one of the key areas in combating drug crime. In this context, examining the legal nature of analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, and comparing them as subjects of drug offences – which is a characteristic of the object – holds significant importance for optimising law enforcement practice and determining the social danger of the crime. The aim of the study is to uncover the criminal law issues that arise when defining the characteristics of the subjects of drug offences in the form of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Problem Statement. The practice regarding offences involving analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has remained unstable and uncommon since their emergence in 2003, while there is a complete absence of practice concerning offences involving new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances that appeared in 2015. This indicates the existence of issues primarily related to establishing the characteristics of the subject of drug offences. Methodology. Various general scientific methods (dialectical, systemic, logical, analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction) and specific legal research methods (formal legal) were employed during the study. Results. The paper examines the concepts and characteristics of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, analogues of narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances as subjects of drug offences. The author asserts that the subjects of the crimes considered possess a common legal nature, and their classification by the legislator as independent entities is motivated by a unified goal. Therefore, it is advisable to include new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances within the scope of drug offences as analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which would optimise law enforcement practice in combating drug crime.

KEYWORDS

analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, legal nature, social danger, subject of the crime, medical characteristic

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GOST

Adamovich V. V. On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances // . 2025. pp. 83-90. (Date of access 19.08.2026).

MLA

Vyacheslav Adamovich. "On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances." (2025): 83-90.

APA

Adamovich V. V. (2025). On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. , 83-90.

Chicago

Vyacheslav Adamovich. "On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances." , no. (2025): 83-90.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Adamovich V. V. | title = On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances | journal = | year = 2025 | pages = 83-90 }}

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ON THE GENERAL LEGAL NATURE OF NEW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND ANALOGUES OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES On the general legal nature of new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and analogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

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