Abstract
Aims and methodTo examine the prevalence of head shop drug usage in individuals attending a range of adult mental health services. We examined the effect of head shop drug usage on the mental state of individuals with a range of mental health disorders. Clinical data were obtained from 608 consecutively reviewed individuals attending adult mental health services in relation to their use of head shop and psychoactive drugs and the putative effects of head shop drugs on their mental state.ResultsThe prevalence of head shop drug use was 13% (n= 78), with a higher prevalence of usage noted in individuals younger than 35 years of age (25%). A large proportion of individuals (n= 41, 54%) reported adverse effects of these agents on their mental state, with psychotic symptoms being the most prevalent.Clinical implicationsHead shop drug usage was associated with a reported deleterious effect on mental state, which was particularly evident for individuals with a history of psychosis.
Highlights
Clinical implications Head shop drug usage was associated with a reported deleterious effect on mental state, which was evident for individuals with a history of psychosis
13% of all individuals and 25% of individuals 435 years of age attending the adult mental health services in West Galway and South Roscommon admitted to utilising head shop products, with cannabinoid-like and stimulantlike agents most frequently ingested
Psychoactive substances that were identified in our study population included synthetic cannabinoids, benzylpiperazine and piperazine derivatives, mephedrone, methylone, methedrone, methcathinone and fluorotropacocaine
Summary
Most individuals were recruited at out-patient clinics (n = 430) and approximately equal numbers of individuals were recruited from both West Galway and South Roscommon mental health services. A significantly greater number of individuals 435 years of age used head shop drugs (24.8%) compared with those 435 years of age (6.2%) Individuals from an urban setting (P50.001) and from West Galway (independent of an urban or rural setting) had a greater likelihood of ingesting head shop drugs (P50.001). Head shop products had a self-reported deleterious effect on individuals’ mental health in 41 (54%) individuals, with head shop-related symptoms of psychosis and depression common (Table 3). The most common sequelae for individuals with a psychosis was the exacerbation or development of psychotic symptoms (65%); all in-patients with psychosis, who had ingested head shop drugs, reported a deleterious effect, with a worsening of psychosis (67%) the most common finding
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
