{"id":2745,"date":"2026-08-19T13:57:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/dipendenze-e-nuove-sostanze-psicoattive\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T14:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T14:11:53","slug":"addictions-and-new-psychoactive-substances","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/research-areas\/addictions-and-new-psychoactive-substances\/","title":{"rendered":"Addictions and New Psychoactive Substances"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-2745\" data-postid=\"2745\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-2745 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-css_id=\"y061900\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_y061900 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_7whj008 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_iyx3908   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h1 class=\"p1\">Addictions and New Psychoactive Substances<\/h1>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_1buq888   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\">Addictions include substance use disorders (alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and others) and behavioral addictions (such as pathological gambling). New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a constantly evolving group of synthetic molecules that mimic the effects of traditional drugs, posing unprecedented challenges to clinical practice and public health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The study of addictions and new psychoactive substances is one of Prof. Giovanni Martinotti&#8217;s main research areas, to which he has devoted a substantial part of his scientific work.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"zao8510\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_zao8510 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_6w4e025 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_hci9951   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Prof. Martinotti&#8217;s research<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"kqu8095\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_kqu8095 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_4zdb003 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_q9w5000   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\"><i>&#8220;In the field of addictions, clinical activity and research focus on the study of substance use disorders, new therapeutic approaches, and the phenomenon of new psychoactive substances, with particular attention to their clinical and psychopathological characteristics.&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/i><i><\/i><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_cvh4095   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\">Prof. Martinotti is among the leading Italian researchers in the study of new psychoactive substances, with a long research record on substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"va87000\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_va87000 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_3 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_8tb0500 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_1u7h851   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #16233b;\">Substance use disorders <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">These include addictions to alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and other substances. Prof. Martinotti&#8217;s research studies their clinical and neurobiological aspects and their pharmacological treatments, including innovative approaches such as brain stimulation applied to addiction.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_mzv1000\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_qz0n110   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #16233b;\"> Behavioral addictions <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Not all addictions involve a substance: pathological gambling and other compulsive behaviors share mechanisms similar to those of substance addictions. This is an area in which Prof. Martinotti has conducted specific studies, including in the youth population.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_fd92914 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_sz5g914   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #16233b;\">New psychoactive substances (NPS)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">These are constantly evolving synthetic molecules \u2014 synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and others \u2014 that often evade regulations and conventional toxicological tests. They represent an emerging challenge for clinical practice, and their study is one of the distinctive strands of Prof. Martinotti&#8217;s research.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"hr3z952\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_hr3z952 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_tg6e095 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_gdoq000   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"jea9613\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_jea9613 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_61b4850 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_riuy009   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\"><b>Q. What are new psychoactive substances (NPS)?<br \/>\n<\/b>A. They are synthetic substances created to reproduce the effects of traditional drugs, often circumventing existing regulations. They are numerous and constantly evolving, which makes them difficult to detect and to treat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Q. Are behavioral addictions real addictions?<\/b><br \/>\nA. Yes. Behaviors such as pathological gambling share neurobiological and clinical mechanisms similar to those of substance addictions, and are studied and treated as such.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Q. Can addictions be treated?<\/b><br \/>\nA. Addictions are complex but treatable conditions: there are therapeutic pathways, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, and research is expanding the available options, including through innovative approaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Q. Why are new psychoactive substances so dangerous?<\/b><br \/>\nA. Because they change continuously, are often not detected by common toxicological tests, and have unpredictable effects: this makes them particularly insidious both for those who use them and for those who have to treat their consequences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b style=\"font-size: 15.84px;\">D. Altra domanda<\/b><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"n1na912\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_n1na912 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top gutter-none tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_gi99010 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_g07h510   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Related publications<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_j6w3511   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\"><i>2-4 tra i suoi lavori pi\u00f9 rilevanti su dipendenze e NPS.<\/i><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_3pd6771 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_fmwf252   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Related media<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_x96g935   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><i>eventuali interventi\/interviste sul tema dipendenze, gioco d&#8217;azzardo o nuove droghe (RAI, ecc.).<\/i><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"8zum503\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_8zum503 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_24c6445 first\">\n                            <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_nnkm939\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column col-full tb_jv73913 first\">\n                    <!-- module buttons -->\n<div  class=\"module module-buttons tb_tavi190 buttons-horizontal solid   squared\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"module-buttons-item tf_in_flx\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/media\/\" class=\"ui builder_button tf_in_flx accent-color squared\" >\n                                                Go to the Media page \u2192                                        <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<!-- \/module buttons -->\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-css_id=\"sjfs000\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth tb_sjfs000 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_cree303 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_oee5035   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Other research areas:<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #16233b;\"><a style=\"color: #16233b;\" href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/home\/research-areas\/treatment-resistant-depression-and-innovative-therapies\/\">Treatment-Resistant Depression and Innovative Therapies<\/a><\/span> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/home\/research-areas\/psychedelics-in-psychiatry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Psychedelics in Psychiatry<\/a><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Addictions and New Psychoactive Substances<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2652,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2745","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"<h1>Addictions and New Psychoactive Substances<\/h1>\n<p>Addictions include substance use disorders (alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and others) and behavioral addictions (such as pathological gambling). New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a constantly evolving group of synthetic molecules that mimic the effects of traditional drugs, posing unprecedented challenges to clinical practice and public health.<\/p> <p>The study of addictions and new psychoactive substances is one of Prof. Giovanni Martinotti's main research areas, to which he has devoted a substantial part of his scientific work.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Prof. Martinotti's research<\/h2>\n<p><i>\"In the field of addictions, clinical activity and research focus on the study of substance use disorders, new therapeutic approaches, and the phenomenon of new psychoactive substances, with particular attention to their clinical and psychopathological characteristics.\"<br \/> <\/i><i><\/i><\/p>\n<p>Prof. Martinotti is among the leading Italian researchers in the study of new psychoactive substances, with a long research record on substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Substance use disorders <\/h3> <p>These include addictions to alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and other substances. Prof. Martinotti's research studies their clinical and neurobiological aspects and their pharmacological treatments, including innovative approaches such as brain stimulation applied to addiction.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"> Behavioral addictions <\/h3> <p>Not all addictions involve a substance: pathological gambling and other compulsive behaviors share mechanisms similar to those of substance addictions. This is an area in which Prof. Martinotti has conducted specific studies, including in the youth population.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">New psychoactive substances (NPS)<\/h3> <p>These are constantly evolving synthetic molecules \u2014 synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and others \u2014 that often evade regulations and conventional toxicological tests. They represent an emerging challenge for clinical practice, and their study is one of the distinctive strands of Prof. Martinotti's research.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p><b>Q. What are new psychoactive substances (NPS)?<br \/> <\/b>A. They are synthetic substances created to reproduce the effects of traditional drugs, often circumventing existing regulations. They are numerous and constantly evolving, which makes them difficult to detect and to treat.<\/p> <p><b>Q. Are behavioral addictions real addictions?<\/b><br \/> A. Yes. Behaviors such as pathological gambling share neurobiological and clinical mechanisms similar to those of substance addictions, and are studied and treated as such.<\/p> <p><b>Q. Can addictions be treated?<\/b><br \/> A. Addictions are complex but treatable conditions: there are therapeutic pathways, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, and research is expanding the available options, including through innovative approaches.<\/p> <p><b>Q. Why are new psychoactive substances so dangerous?<\/b><br \/> A. Because they change continuously, are often not detected by common toxicological tests, and have unpredictable effects: this makes them particularly insidious both for those who use them and for those who have to treat their consequences.<\/p> <p><b style=\"font-size: 15.84px;\">D. Altra domanda<\/b><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Related publications<\/h2>\n<p><i>2-4 tra i suoi lavori pi\u00f9 rilevanti su dipendenze e NPS.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Related media<\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><i>eventuali interventi\/interviste sul tema dipendenze, gioco d'azzardo o nuove droghe (RAI, ecc.).<\/i><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/media\/\" > Go to the Media page \u2192 <\/a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Other research areas:<\/strong> <a style=\"color: #16233b;\" href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/home\/research-areas\/treatment-resistant-depression-and-innovative-therapies\/\">Treatment-Resistant Depression and Innovative Therapies<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/home\/research-areas\/psychedelics-in-psychiatry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Psychedelics in Psychiatry<\/a><\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2745"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3181,"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2745\/revisions\/3181"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/giovannimartinotti.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}