Similarly to most internationally controlled drugs, the use of NPS among adolescents is higher than among the general population, but the difference between adolescent boys and girlsis lower for NPS than for controlled drugs.

• Limited data suggest that NPS use is generally higher among school students than among the general population.
• The gender gap between adolescent boys and girls is narrower in the case of new psychoactive substances use than controlled drugs.
• The most common form of NPS used by adolescents is herbal, with a notable exception of Norway where powders are more common.