The INES project achieved several key objectives: (1) Increase knowledge and adapt attitudes towards NPS. This was accomplished through a need analysis and training for teachers, students, and educators. Academic partners prepared blended learning courses to introduce the topic of NPS and homogenize the knowledge; (2) Avoid one-off training interventions. The project promoted continuous collaborative experiences involving academic partners, game design experts, teachers, and students. Together, they co-designed teaching and learning pathways on NPS, integrating the topic across various school subjects and following an interdisciplinary way. INES fostered active participation to empower teachers and students, supporting innovation at the school system level; (3) Involve stakeholders in content creation. The project promoted interdisciplinary exchange among teachers and researchers to create open educational resources on NPS. Pilot schools tested and released these materials under open licenses, making them adaptable for other educators; (4) Promote the educational value of games. Students and teachers co-designed a serious game to support active learning experiences to contrast the NPS.
New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) represent a growing and diverse group of synthetic chemical compounds with pharmacological and toxicological properties that pose significant risks to consumer health. As highlighted in the European Drug Report (EMCDDA, 2018), "New psychoactive substances continue to challenge public health, with the priority being to identify and respond to the emergence of drugs that have been overlooked elsewhere." The ESPAD Report has also identified a concerning rise in NPS use among 15- to 16-year-old school students, with 3-4% of adolescents in 24 European countries reporting frequent use. To foster innovation in secondary school education, including through the use of digital technologies, the INES project aims to create a supportive environment for collaboration among teachers, external experts, and students. This collaboration will focus on developing, testing, adapting, and implementing effective teaching-learning strategies to address the NPS issue. Schools play a crucial role in enhancing knowledge and developing strategies that promote students' agency, reflective thinking, and key competencies, which are essential for preventing early school leaving and combating NPS abuse.