EPA-0797 - Epidemiology of new psychoactive substances in a sample of adolescents and young adults

Abstract

The rapid emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), combined with the ability of the Internet to disseminate information quickly, represents a serious issue from both a clinical and a public health point of view. Aim of our research project is to assess the knowledge of NPSs and the extent of their diffusion amongst Italian young people. A questionnaire has been administered to a youth population (2700 subjects, 16-24 year old) randomly selected from a representative group, to evaluate their knowledge/use of a group of NPSs. Other items evaluate possible alcoholic abuse, use of other drugs, smoking habit, consumption of energy drinks/caffeinate beverages, time spent over the Internet per day. In the sample a partial knowledge of NPSs has been reported. The use of Cannabis in form of ’Spices’, ’Bath Salts’ including mephedrone, and Salvia divinorum was found in 1,4%, 2.2%, and 0.8% respectively. Relevant is the consumption of alcoholic beverages, with an important prevalence of binge drinking habits (98% of alcohol drinkers, 48,4% of total sample). The results evidence a partial, but presumably significant compared to the general population, knowledge of use of New Psychoactive Substances among selected Italian adolescents and young adults. Peculiar is the percentage of subjects with Binge Drinking habits (98%) among alcohol consumers (50,8% of total sample). We aim to widen the data with further questionnaire collection, in order to present more significant results