AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, causes and forms of the use of legal highs in Poland. METHODS: The study was based on an original questionnaire and was carried out through the Internet before banning of the legal highs in Poland. RESULTS: The study covered 3013 people, aged 24.7 +/- 6.9, of which 9.3% admitted to use legal highs (6.5% ofwomen, and 14.7% ofmen, P < 0.01). The highest percentage of legal highs users was in the age groups 19-25 years (10.6%). Most people taking legal highs did so less than 1 time per month (71.8%). The most common reasons for taking legal highs were curiosity (46.4%), the desire to have fun (26.8%), and to improve the well-being (10.7%). Legal highs were most often used during meetings with friends (68.9% of cases), and social events (52.1%). The majority of their users adopted other risky behaviors: 56.4% took them with alcohol, 86.4% tried narcotics at least once, and 13.9% decided to try narcotics after trying legal highs. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Among the respondents of the online survey 9.3% admitted to use legal highs. 2. A typical profile of a legal high user is a young man, using them out of curiosity, to improve the well-being or just for fun, usually in social situations. 3. Initiatives undertaken to reduce the use of legal highs have to consider the social context.
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, causes and forms of the use of legal highs in Poland. METHODS: The study was based on an original questionnaire and was carried out through the Internet before banning of the legal highs in Poland. RESULTS: The study covered 3013 people, aged 24.7 +/- 6.9, of which 9.3% admitted to use legal highs (6.5% ofwomen, and 14.7% ofmen, P < 0.01). The highest percentage of legal highs users was in the age groups 19-25 years (10.6%). Most people taking legal highs did so less than 1 time per month (71.8%). The most common reasons for taking legal highs were curiosity (46.4%), the desire to have fun (26.8%), and to improve the well-being (10.7%). Legal highs were most often used during meetings with friends (68.9% of cases), and social events (52.1%). The majority of their users adopted other risky behaviors: 56.4% took them with alcohol, 86.4% tried narcotics at least once, and 13.9% decided to try narcotics after trying legal highs. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Among the respondents of the online survey 9.3% admitted to use legal highs. 2. A typical profile of a legal high user is a young man, using them out of curiosity, to improve the well-being or just for fun, usually in social situations. 3. Initiatives undertaken to reduce the use of legal highs have to consider the social context.
Authors: George Savulich; Owen Bowden-Jones; Robert Stephenson; Annette B Brühl; Karen D Ersche; Trevor W Robbins; Barbara J Sahakian Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-03-24 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Anna Garus-Pakowska; Agnieszka Kolmaga; Ewelina Gaszyńska; Magdalena Ulrichs Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-07 Impact factor: 4.614