The new strategy has emerged after Home Office noticed new threats identifies as new psychoactive substances (NPS), image and performance-enhancing drugs, chemsex drugs and misuse of prescribed medicines.
Chemsex is officially defined as the use of drugs before or during planned sexual activity to sustain, enhance, disinhibit or facilitate the experience. It commonly involves the use of crystal methamphetamine, GHB/GBL and mephedrone.
The government's new plan says local areas will be given guidance on effective steps including "targeted interventions" and close collaboration between sexual health services and other relevant groups.
NPS, which often mimic the effects of drugs such as cannabis, were widely known as legal highs before laws criminalising their production; distribution, sale and supply were introduced last year.
The fresh approach will see a new intelligence system for the substances developed to reduce the length of time between drug-related harms emerging and effective responses being prepared.
Michael Imonroe, a Christian addiction therapist and addict in recovery welcomed the government's focus on these non-traditional drugs.
Imonroe told Premier: "With the drug strategy being released, a huge light is being shone on these substances is a good thing.
"Psychoactive substances which have been around for many, many years and it's now the government is realising how dangerous some of these substances are.
"It's caused a lot of deaths especially with younger people. A lot of them are ending up in mental institutions; a lot of them are dying from cardiac arrests.
"There's a lot of long-term trauma, depression and anxiety being formed from these substances."
Martin Powell, head of campaigns at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, criticised the strategy.
He said: "It won't protect young people and communities because it is the same failed old recipe of criminalisation and under-funding that has led to record numbers of vulnerable people dying."
Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who will chair a new cross-government Drug Strategy Board, said: "I am determined to confront the scale of this issue and prevent drug misuse devastating our families and communities."
Imonroe said his faith was an integral part in his recovery process and encouraged addicts to find strength in God coupled with recovery programs to overcome the issue.
He told Premier: "I believe God had his hand on me all the time. We have some people in recovery say 'I found God'. God found me, actually, and brought me to a place of recovery and living a life that's beyond my dream."
Listen to Michael Imonroe speaking with Premier's Eno Adeogun here:
