TY - JOUR
T1 - Health and Social Problems Associated with Recent Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use Amongst Marginalised, Nightlife and Online Users in Six European Countries
AU - Van Hout, Marie Claire
AU - Benschop, Annemieke
AU - Bujalski, Michal
AU - Dąbrowska, Katarzyna
AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt
AU - Felvinczi, Katalin
AU - Hearne, Evelyn
AU - Henriques, Susana
AU - Kaló, Zsuzsa
AU - Kamphausen, Gerrit
AU - Korf, Dirk
AU - Silva, Joana Paula
AU - Wieczorek, Łukasz
AU - Werse, Bernd
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Continued diversification and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) across Europe remains a public health challenge. The study describes health and social consequences of recent NPS use as reported in a survey of marginalised, nightlife and online NPS users in the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Poland (n = 3023). Some respondents were unable to categorise NPS they had used. Use of ‘herbal blends’ and ‘synthetic cannabinoids obtained pure’ was most reported in Germany, Poland and Hungary, and use of ‘branded stimulants’ and ‘stimulants/empathogens/nootropics obtained pure’ was most reported in the Netherlands. Increased heart rate and palpitation, dizziness, anxiety, horror trips and headaches were most commonly reported acute side effects. Marginalised users reported substantially more acute side effects, more mid- and long-term mental and physical problems, and more social problems. Development of country-specific NPS awareness raising initiatives, health and social service needs assessments, and targeted responses are warranted.
AB - Continued diversification and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) across Europe remains a public health challenge. The study describes health and social consequences of recent NPS use as reported in a survey of marginalised, nightlife and online NPS users in the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Poland (n = 3023). Some respondents were unable to categorise NPS they had used. Use of ‘herbal blends’ and ‘synthetic cannabinoids obtained pure’ was most reported in Germany, Poland and Hungary, and use of ‘branded stimulants’ and ‘stimulants/empathogens/nootropics obtained pure’ was most reported in the Netherlands. Increased heart rate and palpitation, dizziness, anxiety, horror trips and headaches were most commonly reported acute side effects. Marginalised users reported substantially more acute side effects, more mid- and long-term mental and physical problems, and more social problems. Development of country-specific NPS awareness raising initiatives, health and social service needs assessments, and targeted responses are warranted.
KW - Health and social consequences
KW - Marginalised drug user
KW - Nightlife
KW - Novel psychoactive substance
KW - NPS
KW - Online drug user
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037371789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11469-017-9824-1
DO - 10.1007/s11469-017-9824-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85037371789
VL - 16
SP - 480
EP - 495
JO - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
JF - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
SN - 1557-1882
IS - 2
ER -