Consumption Of Psychoactive Substances Research Articles

Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use During Pregnancy in Argentine Women: A Pilot Study Testing Maternal Hair

Background: The use of psychoactive substances (PSs) during pregnancy is a major public health concern because of their increasing prevalence worldwide. This study examined the understudied issue of gestational PS consumption in a cohort of Argentine delivering mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study involving 51 women receiving delivery care was conducted at the Santa Rosa Hospital in La Pampa, Argentina. Information on maternal sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, and drug use was obtained through standardized interviews. Maternal hair samples were analyzed for alcohol, tobacco, licit, illicit, and prescription substance biomarkers using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: During pregnancy, 49.0% of participants reported alcohol consumption, 25.5% reported tobacco use, and 23.5% reported cannabis use. Hair samples from 56.9% of the women were positive for illicit PSs, with the most frequent being cocaine (41.2%) and cannabis (15.7%). Among the women, 47.1% consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Of the 24 women with hair ethyl glucuronide ≥5 pg/mg, 33.3% drank until the end of gestation and 58.3% started a social drinking habit in the second half. The analysis also detected prescription substances (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, methadone, opioids, antihistamines, antiemetics, and analgesics), caffeine (70.6%), lidocaine, and levamisole, some of which were cocaine or opioid adulterants. Conclusions: This is the first study to objectively assess the consumption of licit and illicit PSs during pregnancy in Argentina. In contrast to most nearby countries, cocaine was the most detected illicit PS in this cohort of Argentine delivering women. This finding highlights the importance of regular monitoring of local trends in PS use during pregnancy.

Сточные воды как перспективный источник информации о потреблении и производстве наркотиков

Purpose: To review the prospect of monitoring population consumption of psychoactive substances using a new approach — monitoring of psychoactive substances in wastewater. Research method: the review is based on information from online databases using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and eLibrary. Conclusion: the capabilities of the method in detecting drug labs and new psychoactive compounds are evaluated as promising and deserving of further study and implementation. Scientific and practical significance: the accepted definitions and characteristics of this method are given, the most well-known examples of the use of this method in Asian, American and European countries are described, the possibilities of the method in obtaining objective information on the consumption of psychoactive substances in different populations (places of detention, educational institutions, at sporting events, etc.), which can be scaled up to settlements and entire regions, are considered.

Socio-emotional Skills in consumers of psychoactive substances

Nowadays people increasingly deal with stress in their day-to-day and the way they adapt involves intrapersonal (emotional relationship), interpersonal and environmental factors, when this adaptation develops in a negative way it can lead to the consumption of psychoactive substances, hence the relevance of the study's theme. The objective of this investigation is to know the profile of emotional competence in consumers of psychoactive substances, making use of an anonymous and confidential questionnaire applied to consumers of psychoactive substances, divided in two parts: the first part, considering variables of sociodemographic and professional character and one second part consisting of the "Veiga Scale of Emotional Competence" (EVCE) (Veiga-Branco, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). The sample is made up of 78 consumers of psychotic substances, of whom 48 were female, most of the respondents are over 30 years old, are single, have no children, have higher education, live with the family and have a social life. The results obtained reveal that there is no influence of sociodemographic variables nor on the characteristics of substance use on the profile of emotional competence or on the dimensions of the same of consumers of psychoactive substances.

Consequences of COVid-19 in Latin American dentists in the first year of the pandemic, the period prior to vaccination campaigns

ObjectivesThe aim of this investigation was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentists in Latin America during the initial year of the outbreak, specifically within the timeframe preceding vaccination campaigns. This study determined the various facets in which dentists were affected and exactly what proportion of them was harmed. MethodsA comprehensive 33 question survey was distributed across 19 Latin American countries after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic's presence in the region. ResultsThere was an absence of statistically significant differences in responses among the surveyed countries in Latin America, with the exception of four questions out of the total 33. Some relevant findings of Latin American were: one in three dental professionals experienced discrimination based on their occupation. Concurrently, three out of four dentists reported initiating new activities to lessen discomfort. Notably, 8.63 % of respondents sought assistance from a psychologist or psychiatrist, while 17.71 % resorted to the consumption of psychoactive substances within the first year of the pandemic.Furthermore, 7.28 % of the professionals indicated that they still had not obtained all the necessary personal protective equipment for their work and 92.05 % disclosing that they personally financed these essential resources. A certain percentage of dentists stated that the quality of care decreased due to the implementation of the new safety measures (40.03 %) or due to their own feelings during patient interactions (23.11 %). Lastly, 38.85 % of dentists contemplated leaving the profession. ConclusionsThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentists was decidedly adverse, manifesting both in personal and professional fields, despite the diverse measures undertaken by these professionals to mitigate its effects.

Use of psychoactive substances among university students from 2019 to 2020: A systematic review

Psychoactive substances act on the central nervous system producing changes in mental processes, such as perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions. The present study aims to identify: (i) the most used psychoactive substances, (ii) how psychoactive substances are acquired, (iii) and possible reasons for the use of psychoactive substances amongst university students. A literature search was carried out without language restrictions and included articles published between 2019 and 2020 in journals indexed in the electronic databases of Pubmed and Scielo. The inclusion criteria considered were: (i) original articles, (ii) studies carried out with university students, (iii) providing data on the use of psychoactive substances. 15 studies were included in this review, of which: 4 studies addressed possible reasons that lead to use of psychoactive substances, 10 studies reported usage profile and demographic data, and 1 study addressed how students acquire psychoactive substances. Reasons that led to the consumption of psychoactive substances include: feelings of loneliness after moving away from family; difficulty making new friends; poor academic performance and susceptible environment to acquisition of these substances. In the selected studies, alcohol was identified as the main drug used. In light of the findings reported in this review, new prevention and harm reduction measures can be formulated, based mainly on the reasons that lead to the use of psychoactive drugs, consumption patterns and how the drugs were acquired by university students.

Psychoactive substance consumption after the Fundão dam mine tailing disaster in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Disasters cause changes in morbidity, mortality, and medicine use. Brazil is one of the main producers of mineral ores at great environmental cost. Mine tailings are stored in dams and ruptures have led to major disasters. We investigated the consumption of psychoactive medicines in the municipalities affected by the Fundão dam disaster in Minas Gerais State. An ecological study was carried out on drug consumption, estimated using public purchases in Minas Gerais and dispensing data from private retail pharmacies. Consumption (in number of defined daily doses/100,000 inhabitants per day) was analyzed descriptively in eight municipalities, stratified according to consumption level during a 25-month period. Six comparisons of mean consumption values for both data sets were done for pre- and post-disaster periods. The means of medicine consumption before and after the event were plotted and linear trends were added. Public purchase data evinced high consumption levels. Only pharmaceutical retail showed significant differences between the strata in the pre-disaster versus two post-disaster periods. Smaller municipalities showed an increase in consumption 15 months after the disaster. Clonazepam led the way in pharmaceutical retail consumption, followed by fluoxetine. Medicines showed an upward trend after the disaster. The high public provision may have stifled significant consumption patterns of psychoactive drugs; however, peak consumption were observed in private retail, suggesting a modification in use patterns after the disaster. The decrease in consumption immediately after the event was probably related to lower care-seeking behavior on the part of the population, and significant peaks after the disaster may reflect economic consequences of it.

Social Representations of Suicide in Patients with Suicide Attempt Hospitalized in a Mental Health Institution

BACKGROUND: The suicide rate in the last 45 years has increased considerably in the world, being the frequency of attempted suicide 20 times higher than that of completed suicide. Pereira is one of the cities with the highest rates in the country. METHODS: This qualitative research uses grounded theory as an analysis method, obtaining the data through semi-structured open-type interviews with selective purposive sampling. The analysis of the interviews was done through the grounded theory method and the results are expressed through the theory of social representations. RESULTS: The findings of this research present the discourse of hospitalized patients with suicide attempt. According to social representations, family and derivatives are vital for individual development and their relationship with the environment. Dysfunctions in the family nucleus increase the risk of developing negative thoughts, which can later turn into suicidal behavior. Associated psychiatric pathologies, low self-esteem, relationship problems, sexual abuse and feelings of rejection are risk factors, while study, life projects, and spirituality are protective factors. No relationship was found regarding the consumption of psychoactive substances. CONCLUSION: The family is fundamental in the configuration of the individual and its role as a protective or risk factor in terms of suicide attempt depends on its functionality. It is suggested that work in the families could serve as a strategy for the prevention of the non-fatal suicidal act.

The consumption of psychoactive substances among French physicians: how do they perceive the creation of a dedicated healthcare system?

Substance use among physicians can have negative impacts on their health, quality of life, and patient care. While Physician Health Programs (PHPs) have proven effective, many physicians with substance use disorders (SUDs) still face obstacles in seeking help. Our study explores the expectations, attitudes, and experiences of French physicians regarding the implementation of a specialized healthcare system (SHS) for addiction, and their opinions on the factors that could improve the effectiveness of such a service, with a focus on substance use disorders (SUDs). We conducted a web-based survey from April 15 to July 15, 2021, which included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and attitudes toward a specialized healthcare system (SHS) for physicians with SUDs. Of the 1,093 respondents (62.5% female), 921 consumed alcohol (84.2%), and 336 (36.4%) were categorized as hazardous drinkers (AUDIT-C ≥ 4 for women and ≥ 5 for men). The mean AUDIT-C score was 3.5 (±1.7 SD), with a range from 1 to 12. Factors associated with hazardous alcohol consumption included coffee consumption [OR 1.53 (1.11-2.12)], psychotropic drug use [OR 1.61 (1.14-2.26)], cannabis use [OR 2.96 (1.58-5.55)], and other drug use [OR 5.25 (1.92-14.35)]. On the other hand, having children was associated with non-hazardous alcohol consumption [OR 0.62 (0.46-0.83)]. Only 27 physicians (2.9%) had consulted a specialist in addiction medicine, while 520 (56.4%) expressed interest in such a consultation. The main barriers to accessing a dedicated consultation were denial (16.3%), physician self-medication (14.3%), fear of judgment (12.8%), and confidentiality concerns (10.2%). A specialized consultation with trained professionals in a neutral location can improve access to care for healthcare workers and maintain patient confidentiality and anonymity. Prevention and awareness can reduce addiction stigma and help peers in need. The improvement of healthcare workers' addiction culture and detection of addictive behavior in peers depends on academic addiction medicine.

Features of external respiration in individuals using various methods of psychoactive substance consumption

The study of the influence of inhalation psychoactive substances (PAS) on the respiratory system is an important issue, given the speed and trend of the spread of various inhalation devices. Hookah is a device for smoking tobacco, the essence of which is the passage of tobacco smoke through a container with water or other liquids (milk, alcohol). The study was conducted among students of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (SAFU), and the population permanently residing in the city of Arkhangelsk. The study was conducted from 2020 to 2022. The aim of this article is to compare the indicators of external respiration in individuals using PAS in different ways. Material and methods. External respiration was assessed by spirometry. Spirometry is a fairly simple, non-invasive and informative method for measuring airflows and volumes. The article presents an analysis of spirometry data from 155 people. Group I included individuals not using tobacco products, Group II included cigarette smokers only, and Group III included individuals using tobacco with a hookah. Results. Volume indicators (FVC, FEV1) in Group I were significantly higher than in representatives of Groups II and III (p > 0.01); Also, in Group I, speed indicators were significantly higher. A significant decrease in the FEV indicator was found in Group III compared to Group II (p > 0.01). Also, members of Groups II and III had a significant decrease in speed indicators compared to Group I.

Comprehensive Monitoring of Psychoactive Substances in Psychiatric Patients Using Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry: A Key Tool for Treatment Planning and Understanding Consumption Patterns in Rome, Italy.

The comprehensive monitoring of licit and illicit drug consumption plays a crucial role in understanding the complexities of patient conditions and designing effective treatment strategies. In this study, the prevalence of psychoactive prescription drugs, classical illicit drugs, and new psychoactive substances (NPS) were objectively assessed in individuals diagnosed with drug-related psychiatric disorders or episodes. Blood, urine, and hair samples were collected from psychiatric patients admitted to the Mental Health Department and Drug Addiction Service of the North Rome Local Health Authority with declared or suspected psychoactive drug use. Comprehensive drug screening was conducted for all samples using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. A total of 71 blood and urine and 50 hair samples were analyzed to confirm the suitability of the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry method for the study purposes. The main substances found in blood and urine were antipsychotics (71.8% and 66.2%) and benzodiazepines (62.0% and 59.2%), respectively, whereas cocaine (84.0%) and antipsychotics (74.0%) was more evident in hair. Z-drugs were detected in blood (7.0%), urine (5.6%), and hair (24%) samples; amphetamines were mainly detected in hair samples (14.0%). Synthetic cathinones were the most frequently detected NPS in hair specimens (8.0%), whereas synthetic cannabinoids were mainly found in blood samples (11.3%). These analyses showed that patients were polydrug users (77.5% detected in blood and urine, and 94.0% in hair). Comprehensive screening enabled the assessment of past, recent, and actual consumption of psychoactive substances, including licit and illicit drugs and NPS, by psychiatric patients. A thorough understanding of substance consumption patterns can enhance therapeutic interventions and management of psychiatric disorders associated with psychoactive substance use.

El juego patológico en estudiantes de salud de una institución universitaria, Cauca, Colombia

ObjectiveTo establish the prevalence of pathological gambling in students to health sciences at the Cauca university. MethodsCross sectional descriptive research in 243 students of the health faculty, selected by two-stage proportional stratified sampling. A survey was sent through institutional emails, which consisted of sociodemographic, academic, clinical aspects and habits of cigarette and psychoactive substance consumption, in addition to the Brief Pathological Gambling Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS.25. ResultsMost of the participants were women, however the majority of those who has some relationship with the gambling were men; the prevalence was 5.8% of possible gambling addiction; 2.5% and 91.8% register some or no problems related to gambling addiction respectively. The variables cigarette consumption, psychoactive substance consumption and diagnosis of depression were statistically significant (p=0.001; p=0.01; p=0.043) in relation to possible gambling addiction. ConclusionsThe prevalence results indicate that university health students are considered a population at risk for pathological gambling.

Driving under the influence of cannabis: A 5-year retrospective Italian study

IntroductionCannabis consumption is associated with driving impairment and increased crash risk, endangering road safety. Toxicological analyses play a fundamental role in detecting a recent consumption of psychoactive substances. The aim of this study was to examine the concentration of cannabinoids in blood samples of driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenders in order to investigate whether delayed sample collection affects the toxicological assessment of the offenders. Materials and MethodsAn observational retrospective study was performed using anonymized toxicological data referring to cannabis-related DUI offenders involved in road traffic accidents (RTA) or apprehended by the police from 1 January 2017–31 December 2021 archived at Legal Medicine and Toxicology Department of the University Hospital of Padova, Italy. ResultsIn a total sample of 318 drivers, 143 blood samples tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and metabolites 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH), and 173 blood samples were positive for THC-COOH with THC negative. In the first group, the mean concentrations of THC and THC-COOH were 4.05 ng/mL and 28.29 ng/mL, respectively. In THC-negative cases, the mean THC-COOH concentration was 7.3 ng/mL. The time elapsed between the event and sample collection varied from 15 min to 7 h (mean 2 h 29 min). The average estimated time elapsed after consumption of cannabinoids was 3 h 7 min (Model I) and 2 h 36 min (Model II). ConclusionsThe present research discussed the main difficulties in the toxicological evaluation of drivers under the influence of Cannabis. Issues related to the time between RTA and sample collection, the laws and legal limits in force in various Countries were presented

Negative log-binomial model with optimal robust variance to estimate the prevalence ratio, in cross-sectional population studies

BackgroundCross-sectional studies are useful for the estimation of prevalence of a particular event with concerns in specific populations, as in the case of diseases or other public health interests. Most of these studies have been carried out with binary binomial logistic regression model which estimates OR values that could be overestimated due to the adjustment of the model. Thus, the selection of the best multivariate model for cross-sectional studies is a priority to control the overestimation of the associations.MethodsWe compared the precision of the estimates of the prevalence ratio (PR) of the negative Log-binomial model (NLB) with Mantel–Haenszel (MH) and the regression models Cox, Log-Poisson, Log-binomial, and the OR of the binary logistic regression in population-based cross-sectional studies. The prevalence from a previous cross-sectional study carried out in Colombia about the association of mental health disorders with the consumption of psychoactive substances (e.g., cocaine, marijuana, cigarette, alcohol and risk of consumption of psychoactive substances) were used. The precision of the point estimates of the PR was evaluated for the NLB model with robust variance estimates, controlled with confounding variables, and confidence interval of 95%.ResultsThe NLB model adjusted with robust variance showed accuracy in the measurements of crude PRs, standard errors of estimate and its corresponding confidence intervals (95%CI) as well as a high precision of the PR estimate and standard errors of estimate after the adjustment of the model by grouped age compared with the MH PR estimate.Obtained PRs and 95%CI entre NLB y MH were: cocaine consumption (2.931,IC95%: 0.723–11.889 vs. 2.913, IC95%: 0.786–12.845), marijuana consumption (3.444, IC95%: 1.856–6.391 vs. 3.407, IC95%: 1.848, 6.281), cigarette smoking (2.175,IC95%: 1.493, 3.167 vs. 2.209, IC95%: 1.518–3.214), alcohol consumption (1.243,IC95%: 1.158–1.334 vs. 1.241, IC95%: 1.157–1.332), and risk of consumption of psychoactive substances (1.086, IC95%: 1.047–1.127 vs. 1.086, IC95%: 1.047, 1.126). The NLB model adjusted with robust variance showed mayor precision when increasing the prevalence, then the other models with robust variance with respect to MH.ConclusionsThe NLB model with robust variance was shown as a powerful strategy for the estimation of PRs for cross-sectional population-based studies, as high precision levels were identified for point estimators, standard errors of estimate and its corresponding confidence intervals, after the adjustment of confounding variables. In addition, it does not represent convergence issues for high prevalence cases (as it occur with the Log-binomial model) and could be considered in cases of overdispersion and with greater precision and goodness of fit than the other models with robust variance, as it was shown with the data set of the cross-sectional study used in here.

Relación entre estereotipos, rasgos y roles de género con el consumo de drogas ilegales en adolescentes veracruzanos

Introduction: in Mexico, in the last decade, the consumption of psychoactive substances has increased among teenagers, especially the female population (INPRFM et al., 2017). One of the conceptual lines to understand this change is the construction of gender. Objective: we explored the relationship between gender stereotypes, traits and roles, and the use of illegal psychoactive substances in Mexican adolescents. Method: cross-sectional, correlational study, with a sample of 145 high school students from the Veracruz state, Mexico. The participants answered the scales: Traits, Roles, and Gender stereotypes, along with some questions to explore drug use. Results: we found similarities between men and women’s consumption of alcohol and tobacco; however, there was a higher use of illegal drugs in men. Men and women illegal drug users presented negative instrumental traits such as aggressiveness and impulsiveness. Men, both users and non-users, presented a higher score on the gender stereotypes scale, while women users had more negative instrumental roles with their peer group. Negative instrumental traits were predictors of illegal drug use. Discussion and conclusion: findings suggest further analysis of substance use from a gender perspective.

Metabolism of dipentylone in zebrafish and human liver microsomes determined by liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry

The consumption of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) is exceedingly prevalent in society, as these substances are sold and distributed as “legal highs.” One novel synthetic cathinone emerging in the market is 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)–2-(dimethylamino) pentan-1-one (dipentylone). The goal of this work was to study the in vivo and in vitro metabolism of dipentylone in zebrafish and human liver microsomes (HLMs) by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The zebrafish and HLM samples contained 14 dipentylone metabolites, specifically 12 phase Ⅰ metabolites and 2 phase Ⅱ metabolites. The main metabolic pathways included monohydroxylation (M1 and M2), N-dealkylation (M3), hydroxylation of the aromatic ring and dealkoxylation of M3 (M4), O-dealkylation (M5), N-dealkylation of M5 (M6), reduction of carboxide (M7), monohydroxylation of M5 (M8), dehydrogenation (M9), dealkoxylation (M10), N-dealkylation of M10 (M11), dealkoxylation of M9 (M12), glucuronidation of M5 (M13), and sulfation (M14). The monohydroxylated metabolite (M2) can be recommended as metabolic markers for dipentylone. This study is the first to identify a target compound for monitoring the abuse of dipentylone and to determine the essential chemical structure of the metabolites for further toxicological research.

Associations between mental health challenges, sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and use of COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by adults in Nigeria

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to assess: 1) the associations among sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) the associations between COVID-19 preventive measures, alcohol consumption and use of psychoactive substances.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data collected from adults in Nigeria between July and December 2020. The variables extracted included change in sexual activity, alcohol consumption and use of other psychoactive substances, COVID-19 preventive behaviors (wearing face masks, washing hands, physical distancing), anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, HIV status, employment status). Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. A model was run to regress depression, anxiety, PTSD, increased alcohol consumption, and increased use of other psychoactive substances, on increased sexual activity. In separate models, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were regressed on increased alcohol consumption and on increased use of other psychoactive substances. Finally, three models were constructed to determine the associations between increased alcohol consumption and increased use of other psychoactive substances on three separate COVID-19 preventive behaviors. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables.ResultsIncreased alcohol consumption (AOR:2.19) and increased use of other psychoactive substances (AOR: 3.71) were significantly associated with higher odds of increased sexual activity. Depression was associated with significantly higher odds of increased alcohol consumption (AOR:1.71) and increased use of other psychoactive substances (AOR:3.21). Increased alcohol consumption was associated with significantly lower odds of physical distancing (AOR:0.59).ConclusionThere was a complex inter-relationship between mental health, sexual health, increased use of psychoactive substances. The consumption of alcohol also affected compliance with physical distancing. Further studies are needed to understand the observed relationships.

Barriers to Access to Mental Health Services in Pregnant Women With Mental Pathology Residing in Colombia

IntroductionPregnancy is associated with multiple physiological changes. Anxiety, depression, suicide, and consumption of psychoactive substances during gestation have been phenomena rarely studied by Colombian academia. These disorders are among the principal causes of maternal morbidity–mortality; however, the presence of barriers to care constitutes a public health problem that must be studied. MethodA prospective longitudinal observational descriptive study was conducted, during one year, with 166 pregnant women. The prevalence of these diseases was evaluated and the most significant supply and demand barriers were identified, for which a battery of mental health measurement instruments was applied to identify the risk of consuming psychoactive substances, depression, and anxiety. ResultsThe most-frequent mental pathology was gestational depression, occurring in 57.22% of the sample; the second most-frequent pathology was gestational anxiety, diagnosed in 46.98% of the patients. The disorder due to consumption of most-frequent substances was smoking; followed by cannabis and alcohol. Access barriers, both in supply and demand, were present in most of the population; 53.01% of the pregnant women were not evaluated by psychology. The principal supply barrier was not assigning appointments or, failing that, these were assigned for a very distant date. ConclusionsA clear relationship exists among depression and anxiety, number of children and age, and supply barriers and access to specialized mental health care. Our findings suggest a high frequency of access barriers in the gestating population with mental pathology.

Substance use among adolescents: Addiction or self-handicap strategy?

Self-handicapping strategies consist of creating or declaring obstacles to oneself before a situation of accomplishment that threatens the self, as might be the case during an academic assessment or a sporting competition, in order to protect oneself from a possible failure or to valorise oneself in the event of success. It turns out that beyond the physiological effects sought and the dependence linked to the product, the consumption of psychoactive substances can serve as an excuse for users in the event of failure, thus protecting their sense of competence or enhancing it in the event of success, for having succeeded in spite of their consumption, which is known to have a negative impact on performance.

Predictive Model of Psychoactive Drugs Consumption using Classification Machine Learning Algorithms

It is difficult to predict the effect of drugs on the individuals, as its results are unpredictable and most often dangerous. For a police purpose that concerned with the protection of individuals, the problem of predicting drug abusing is highly important. A dataset was used from open-source website UCI, that includes specific attributes about using up of eighteen different psychoactive drugs. Our study aimed to use data mining classification techniques, in order to classify the individual into two categories: user or non-user. Eighteen classification models were built using different classification algorithms such as Gaussian Naive Bais, Logistic Regression, k-nearest neighbors, Random Forest, and Decision Tree. The accurate classifier was chosen by studying the accuracy, recall, precision, and f1-score measures for each one, and it was evaluated by the Holdout method. The results were obtained optimally, and we got 18 models, where each one had different high accurate outputs, that classify an individual to user and non-user. The final model is a combination of 18 models for 18 critical psychoactive drugs: Alcohol, Amphet, Amyl, Benzos, Caff, Cannabis, Choc, Coke, Crack, Ecstasy, Heroin, Ketamine, Legalh, LSD, Meth, Mushrooms, Nicotine and VSA. This study in turn may give a chance for the decision makers to reduce the risk of these drugs consumption, in order to avoid healthcare issues and keep the community in safe.

Non-prescribed pharmaceutical stimulants use among adolescents: A way to self-care or peer success?

Backgroundthe use of pharmaceutical stimulants without a medical prescription (PSWMP) among adolescents is considered an established public health issue. The present study aimed to investigate the potential links between different patterns of non-medical use of pharmaceutical stimulants, psycho-social factors, and other risky behaviours (e.g. psychoactive substance use). MethodsFor this purpose, data from a sample of 14,685 adolescents aged 15–19 participating in the ESPAD®Italia 2019 study were analysed by conducting descriptive analyses and multinomial logistic regressions. ResultsThe findings highlight the key role of psycho-social factors and engagement in other risky behaviours in either reducing or promoting the risk of PSWMP use. Particularly, being satisfied with peer relationships and with oneself is significantly associated with lower use of PSWMP. Conversely, the consumption of other psychoactive substances (both legal and illegal) and engagement in other risky behaviours (e.g., gambling and cyberbullying) may increase this phenomenon. ConclusionsConsidering their representativeness, the results of the present study could be used as groundwork for the development of effective and targeted prevention programs and interventions.