Nove psihoaktivne tvari oblik su sintetičkih droga čija je zadaća oponašati učinak klasičnih droga. Najviše su zastupljeni tzv. sintetički kanabinoidi, koji su prisutni i u Republici Hrvatskoj najčešće pod nazivom osvježivači zraka. Donedavno su se mogli pronaći u slobodnoj prodaji s obzirom na to da nisu bili obuhvaćeni relevantnim prohibitivnim odredbama o suzbijanju droga hrvatskog zakonodavstva. Takvo je stanje potrajalo sve do travnja 2019. kad su konačno učinjene nužne zakonske promjene u korist zabrane. S druge strane, na štetno djelovanje novih droga, poglavito na mladu populaciju, učestalo se medijski upozoravalo godinama prije legislativnog zahvata. Znanstvena su istraživanja o toj temi izostala u odnosu na potrebnu razinu. Autori ovoga rada stoga predstavljaju rezultate dvaju istraživanja koja pokazuju izloženost srednjoškolaca na području Osijeka tim drogama. Dobivene spoznaje potvrdile su pretpostavke o dobroj upoznatosti s osvježivačima kao i njihovu relativno visoku konzumaciju. Vezano uz prikazane spoznaje autori jasno (pr)ocjenjuju recentnu legislativnu reakciju kao zakašnjelu. S obzirom na nove okolnosti u tom području rad treba poslužiti i kao poticaj daljnjim istraživanjima te teme.; New psychoactive substances are a form of synthetic drugs produced to mimic the effects of classical drugs. The most represented are the so-called synthetic cannabinoids, present also in the Republic of Croatia (commonly under the name of air fresheners). Until recently, they were commercially available since they were not included in the relevant prohibitive drug suppression provisions of Croatian legislation. This situation lasted until April 2019, when the necessary legal changes in favour of the ban were finally made. On the other hand, the harmful effects of new drugs, especially on the young population, have been covered by media for years before the legislative intervention. There is a lack of scientific research on this topic in relation to the required level. The authors of this paper therefore present the results of two studies showing the exposure of high school students in the Osijek area to these drugs. The obtained findings confirmed the hypotheses about the high familiarity with the refreshers as well as their relatively high consumption. Concerning the findings presented, the authors clearly (re) evaluate the recent legislative reaction as delayed. Given the new circumstances in this field, the paper should also serve as an impetus for further research on this topic.