High lifetime, but low current, prevalence of new psychotropic substances (NPS) use in German drug detoxification treatment young inpatients

Abstract

BackgroundOver the last 15 years, a large number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has been identified, with their use being associated with a range of acute medical and psychopathological complications. Conversely, NPS addictive liability levels have not been systematically assessed in clinical populations. Aims of the studyInvestigating the lifetime and current prevalence of NPS use in a sample of substance use disorder (SUD) patients admitted to an inpatient detoxification treatment centre. MethodsAssessment of previous/current NPS intake carried out with the means of standardised questionnaire based on the European version of Addiction Severity Index. ResultsSome 206 patients (males 77.1%; average age: 30.7 years-old; most typical diagnosis: opioid/polydrug dependence) participated to the survey. Roughly half (e.g. 111/206; 53.9%) of them reported a lifetime use of NPS, most typically synthetic cannabinoids. Conversely, the current prevalence of NPS use was 2.9%; no NPS dependence condition was diagnosed. Among NPS users, 56.3% reported severe side-effects such as heavy anxiety or psychotic experience, and 64% reported an aversion of ever using the respective NPS again, whilst 84.3% of those reporting a single NPS intake reported an aversion. DiscussionThe sharp contrast between lifetime prevalence of NPS use and prevalence of current use might be explained by the high frequency of severe side effects reported by NPS users.