Novel psychoactive substances: use and knowledge among adolescents and young adults in urban and rural areas

Autor: Eleonora Chillemi, T. Acciavatti, Leonardo Carlucci, Giovanni Martinotti, Massimo Di Giannantonio, Rita Santacroce, M. Lupi, Eduardo Cinosi, Ludovica Bonifaci, Luigi Janiri
Rok vydání: 2015
Předmět:
Zdroj: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. 30:295-301
ISSN: 0885-6222
DOI: 10.1002/hup.2486
Popis: INTRODUCTION: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are new psychotropic drugs, not scheduled under the International Conventions on Psychotropic Substances, but which may pose a relevant public health threat. In this study, we investigated knowledge and use of NPS in a sample of Italian youth in urban and rural areas. METHODS: Between December 2012 and October 2013, we administered a questionnaire to a sample of 3011 healthy subjects (44.7% men; 55.3% women), aged between 16 and 24 years and recruited in urban, intermediate and rural areas of Italy. RESULTS: Of the global sample, 53.3% declared to have some knowledge on NPS, with a higher knowledge in urban areas. Mephedrone (26%), desomorphine (22.6%) and methamphetamine (21.7%) were the most commonly known drugs. NPS use was reported by 4.7% of the sample, without significant differences between urban and rural areas; mephedrone (3.3%), synthetic cannabinoids (1.2%) and Salvia divinorum (0.3%) consumption has been identified. NPS use was also predictive of binge-drinking behaviours (χ(2) (4) = 929.58, p DISCUSSION: Urban areas may represent a focal point for preventive strategies, given the presence of higher levels of NPS knowledge. Moreover, the association between binge-drinking habits and NPS use was really strong. This issue should not be underestimated because of its medical, psychopathological and social consequences. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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