Psychoactive Substance Use Research Articles

Multi-channel marketing exposure and psychoactive substance use in e-cigarettes: a cross-sectional study of Polish adolescents and young adults.

The increasing prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e‑cigarette) use among adolescents has raised concerns about potential high‑risk behaviors, particularly the addition of psychoactive substances to e‑cigarette liquid (e‑liquids). This study examines the association between exposure to e‑cigarette marketing and the practice of adding psychoactive substances to e‑liquids among Polish teenagers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 8,344 Polish teenagers aged 15 years and older. The study evaluated exposure to various e-cigarette marketing channels, the prevalence of psychoactive substances added to e-liquids and associated demographic and socioeconomic factors. A cross‑sectional survey was conducted with 8344 Polish teenagers aged ≥15 years. The study evaluated exposure to various e‑cigarette marketing channels, the prevalence of psychoactive substances added to e‑liquids and associated demographic and socioeconomic factors. These findings elucidate the com‑ plex interplay between e‑cigarette marketing exposure, socioeconomic factors, and high‑risk e‑cigarette use among adolescents. The results underscore the necessity for more stringent regulation of e‑cigarette marketing and comprehensive, targeted prevention strategies focusing on urban and higher‑income youth populations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2).

How does music contribute to well-being? Perspectives from homeless young adults with problematic psychoactive substance use

Homeless young adults with problematic psychoactive substance (PS) use face multiple challenges that compromise their well-being. Despite these challenges, few of them access psychosocial services and rather rely on personal resources to promote their own well-being. However, literature has been largely centered on their difficulties, leaving their strengths and capacities unknown. Despite this lack of knowledge, literature suggests that music is very important in the lives of young adults, especially because it helps them meet multiple well-being needs. The objective of this study was to describe and understand the perspectives of homeless young adults who experience problematic PS use on the ways music contributes to their well-being. Fifteen participants took part in semi-directed qualitative interviews that covered their experiences regarding the role of music in well-being. We also performed an iterative thematic analysis. Results highlight the marked importance of music for participants. Our study also demonstrates participants’ capacity to adapt their use of music to address the emotional, psychological, and social challenges they face. This study contributes to a better understanding of young adults’ use of music in promoting their global well-being and to the development of adapted outreach interventions that account for their capacities and interests.

Fine Particulate Matter From 2020 California Wildfires and Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits

ImportanceA growing body of research suggests that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5; particle size 2.5 microns or smaller) may be associated with mental health outcomes. However, the potential impact of wildfire-specific PM2.5 exposure on mental health remains underexplored.ObjectiveTo investigate whether wildfire-specific PM2.5 exposure may be associated with emergency department (ED) visits for mental health conditions, including all-cause and for psychoactive substance use, nonmood psychotic disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mood-affective disorders during the extensive 2020 California wildfire season.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study used data on ED visits from July to December 2020 obtained from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Eligible participants were California residents who presented to an ED in California for mental health conditions without COVID-19. The data were analyzed between July 2020 and December 2020.ExposureWildfire-specific PM2.5 exposure (with up to 7-day lags) based on participants’ residential zip codes.Main Outcomes and MeasuresDaily ED visit counts for all-cause and disease-specific mental health conditions (F00-F99) identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes at zip code tabulation areas.ResultsBetween July and December 2020, there were 86 609 ED visits for mental health conditions (median [IQR] patient age, 38 [27-54] years; 40 272 female [46.5%]; 10 657 Black [12.3%], 30 044 Hispanic [34.7%], 35 145 White [40.6%]). Visits included psychoactive substance use (23 966 [27.6%]), nonmood psychotic disorders (16 714 [19.3%]), anxiety (26 711 [30.8%]), depression (10 422 [12.0%]), and other mood-affective disorders (5338 [6.2%]). During peak wildfire months, the median (IQR) daily concentration of wildfire-specific PM2.5 increased to 11.9 (3.9-32.5) μg/m3. A 10-μg/m3 increase in wildfire-specific PM2.5 was associated with higher ED visits for all-cause mental conditions (cumulative relative risk [cRR] over lag 0-7 days, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12), depression (cRR over lag 0-7 days, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.30), other mood-affective disorders (cRR over lag 0-7 days, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.54), and anxiety (cRR over lag 0-4 days, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.12). Subgroup analyses suggested that wildfire smoke was associated with disproportionately increased ED visits among female individuals (eg, depression: cRR over lag 0-4 days, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32) and young people (other mood-affective disorders: cRR over lag 0-4 days, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.08-1.98). Effect modification by race was found, with non-Hispanic Black individuals having an increased risk of ED visits for other mood-affective disorders (cRR over lag 0-5 days, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.56-3.53) and Hispanic individuals an increased risk for visits for depression (cRR over lag 0-7 days, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.59).Conclusions and RelevanceWildfire smoke exposure was associated with significantly increased odds of subsequent ED visits for mental health conditions in this cross-sectional study, with varying lag times for different subconditions and demographic groups.

Validation of JEM Soignances Job-Exposure Matrix Through Comparison with Self-Reported Exposures Among Healthcare Workers in CONSTANCES.

A healthcare-specific job-exposure matrix, JEM Soignances, was recently developed to assess the occupational exposome of healthcare workers. This study aimed to compare estimates of known associations between occupational exposures and health outcomes obtained using JEM Soignances and self-reported data. Healthcare professionals from the CONSTANCES cohort with linked data from the French National Healthcare Database (SNDS) were included (n = 12219). Exposures were estimated using JEM Soignances (occupations and sectors of activity) and its alternative version (+ establishment size and status), as binary exposure at inclusion or as lifetime cumulative exposure (< 10y/ ≥ 10y). Association with relevant health outcomes (i.e., pain, depressive symptoms, hypertension, cancer, use of psychoactive drugs) were evaluated using logistic regression and compared to estimates obtained from self-reported exposure data in terms of direction, magnitude, and significance. For organizational exposures, 10/16 associations for JEM Soignances and 12/16 for the alternative version aligned with self-reported data in direction and magnitude. For biomechanical exposures, confidence intervals overlapped in 11/15 associations for JEM Soignances and in 9/15 for the alternative version. For the others, discrepancies generally lean toward underestimation. For psychosocial exposure, JEM Soignances revealed significant limitations: While self-reported effort-reward imbalance was strongly associated with depressive symptoms (aOR = 3.18[2.81;3.59]), JEM Soignances underestimated this association (aOR = 1.37[1.23;1.54]), and the alternative version failed to detect it (aOR = 0.99[0.87;1.13]). JEM Soignances demonstrated good agreement with self-reported data for organizational and biomechanical exposures but failed for psychosocial exposure, often underestimating or missing associations. Further research is needed to evaluate JEM Soignances validity for biological, chemical, and physical exposures.

Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and psychoactive substances use among pharmacy students in Minas Gerais: Impacts of the pandemic and the university environment

Mental disorders affect the population widely, and university students are considered a risk group due to the challenges of academic life. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on this population, intensifying symptoms of anxiety and depression. On the other hand, there is a high consumption of psychoactive substances among academics, which initially aim to minimize internal tensions, but can, in a chronic manner, harm health. Given this, a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out on the presence of anxiety and depression, as well as the use of psychoactive substances among pharmacy students at a public university in the interior of Minas Gerais. Two questionnaires were used for data collection, one for demographic and psycho-emotional assessment and another specific for anxiety and depression, known as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study population consisted of 350 academics. Of these, 69.43% were female, with an average age of 21.72 years. The data indicate that 39.14% of the interviewees had “probable” anxiety and 25.14% “probable” depression, affecting first-year and last-year students more prominently. In addition, there was a higher prevalence of anxiety in males. Depression, on the other hand, affected women more. Regarding the social context, it is observed that both the university and the COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, 64.86% of the participants used psychoactive substances, with alcohol and anxiolytics and/or antidepressants being the most used. Thus, the impact of the university and the pandemic on mental illnesses is clear. Furthermore, the high use of psychoactive substances is worrying, as it can generate secondary damage. Therefore, it is suggested that educational measures for preventing psychoactive substance use, as well as improvements in programs related to mental health.

Patterns and Self-Reported Effects of The Use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) among Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

Patterns and Self-Reported Effects of The Use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) among Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

Factors of Psychoactive Substance Use Behaviors and Intention Among Social Workers’ Adolescent Case-Work Clients in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study investigated the factors of psychoactive substance use in terms of current use (past 30 days), lifetime use, and behavioral intention (next 12 months) in Hong Kong adolescent case-clients of social workers from July 2021 to June 2022. The prevalence of current/lifetime psychoactive substance use and behavioral intention to use psychoactive substances was 7.6%/20.9% and 8.6%, respectively. The SCT constructs of positive outcome expectancy of psychoactive substance use, the observational learning indicators, and the environmental factor (easiness to obtain psychoactive substances) were positively associated with current and lifetime psychoactive substance use. Similar associations involving negative outcome expectancy (NOE), emotional relief refusal self-efficacy (RSE), and opportunistic RSE were significant and negative. Furthermore, NOE, emotional relief RSE, and social facilitation RSE were significantly associated with behavioral intention of psychoactive substance use. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the findings and test pilot interventions.

Kazakhstani Drivers and Substance Abuse During COVID-19: A Study of Patterns and Disaster Readiness.

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected public health and social behavior, contributing to increased psychoactive substance (PAS) use due to social isolation, economic stress, and uncertainty. This study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on alcohol, cannabinoid, and opioid consumption among drivers involved in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Kazakhstan. Understanding these patterns is essential for improving public health policies and road safety measures during crises. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed medical records from the Digital System of Medical Examination, a national database of drivers involved in traffic accidents in Kazakhstan. This study included 157,490 anonymized records from 1 January 2019, to 31 December 2020, categorizing cases into pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups on the basis of the first nationwide lockdown on 16 March 2020. Statistical analyses, including prevalence rates and relative changes, were conducted via SPSS 20, while spatial distributions were visualized via QGIS software. Results: An analysis of all the records revealed a 12.9% decline in traffic accidents during the pandemic, with male drivers predominating during both periods. The mean age of the drivers in the compared groups was 36. Alcohol and cannabinoid use significantly increased during the COVID-19 period by 3.71% and 11.51%, respectively. In contrast, opioid use declined by 10.00%, but the difference was not statistically significant. The greatest increase in positive alcohol tests among drivers was observed in the Atyrau (94.80%), Pavlodar (35.43%), and North Kazakhstan (31.02%) regions, and Atyrau also presented the greatest increase in cannabinoid-positive cases. Conclusions: The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures have affected PAS consumption patterns among drivers. These findings are crucial for informing policies and developing strategies to improve road safety during future public health emergencies.

Trend analyses and comparison of characteristics of current-, former- and never-drinkers among young adults in France from 2000 to 2021

BackgroundAn overall decrease in alcohol consumption has recently been observed among a growing segment of the youth population in Western countries. Our study aimed to assess evolving trends in the rates of current-, former- and never- alcohol drinkers among 18-30-year-old French individuals between 2000 and 2021, and to compare their socio-economic characteristics, psychoactive substance use, and health-related parameters.MethodsWe used cross-sectional survey data from the 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2021 editions of the French Health Barometer, and tested the existence of a linear trend in current-, former- and never-drinking among young adults aged 18 to 30 over time. We compared the characteristics of the three groups by conducting a multivariable logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 26,622 participants were included in our analyses. We found no significant changes in the trends of current-, former- and never-drinkers from 2000 to 2021. Post-hoc analyses found no significant changes in the trend of at-risk drinkers during the same period. Compared to current-drinkers, former- and never- drinkers were less likely to be male (OR: 0.75 [0.66; 0.85]); OR: 0.48 [0.43; 0.54]), and were more likely to have incomplete high school education (OR: 1.70 [1.47; 1.97]; OR: 1.72 [1.51; 1.96]), to be unemployed (OR: 1.58 [1.33; 1.89]; OR: 1.34 [1.15; 1.56]), to have a low income (OR: 1.88 [1.62; 2.19]; OR: 1.28 [1.13; 1.45]), to have a higher level of physical activity (OR: 2.57 [2.25; 2.95]; OR: 1.38 [1.24; 1.55]), and to practice a religion (OR: 17.16, 95CI [15.08; 19.53]; OR: 5.43 [4.88; 6.05]). Never-drinkers were less likely to have experimented with tobacco and cannabis, as well as other illicit drugs, while former-drinkers were less likely to report current tobacco use or past-year cannabis use.ConclusionsIn contrast to other countries, we found no clear trend indicating a shift in the patterns of alcohol use among young adults aged 18–30 in France from 2000 to 2021. Groups of current-, former- and never-drinkers differed in socio-economic, socio-demographic, health-related parameters and substance use characteristics.

Students’ Relationships With Peers and Teachers in the Context of Substance Use

This article examines students’ relationships with their peers and teachers at school, exploring how these connections relate to adolescents’ use of psychoactive substances. The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey and an original questionnaire, involving 396 students aged 13 to 19 from primary, secondary, engineering, and vocational schools. The results revealed a significant relationship between adolescents’ connections with their peers and teachers and their substance use. Specifically, the greater the intensity of substance use among adolescents, the weaker their relationships with teachers and peers. Conversely, stronger relationships with school staff and peers were associated with fewer symptoms of alcohol and drug dependence. Academic performance, a mediating variable, played an important role in the study. The mean academic performance scores correlated significantly with adolescents’ relationships with teachers. The findings indicate that stronger relationships with school staff were associated with higher academic achievement, whereas lower academic performance correlated with higher levels of substance use among adolescents.

HEALTH SAFETY OF SOLDIERS PARTICIPATING IN MISSIONS ABROAD. ROLE OF STRESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN INCIDENCE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POST-TRAUMATIC CHANGES

There are professions that entail above-average levels of both health and psychological costs. It is indisputable that the profession of soldier can be classified in this category. The ability to handle stress when faced with danger is crucial, not only for the well-being of the participants, but also on account of its significant impact on collective security. The aim of the undertaken research was to explore the role of personal resources, such as stress coping strategies, in both negative and positive outcomes of traumatic events among soldiers. The indicators of negative outcomes were post-traumatic stress symptoms, while the coping strategy served as an indicator of positive post-traumatic growth. In order to assess the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms, the Impact of Events Scale was used. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory was employed for the examination of post-traumatic growth, and stress coping strategies were examined using the Mini-COPE Inventory. The research results indicated that the investigated soldiers deployed on foreign missions who were exposed to traumatic events as part of their duties experience both negative and positive consequences of these events. Both problem-focused strategies and strategies aimed at reducing emotional tension dominate among the strategies employed by the soldiers surveyed. The highest values were obtained in the following categories: active coping, planning, positive revaluation and acceptance. Among the strategies least frequently employed by soldiers are the use of psychoactive substances and the discontinuation of activities.

Unravelling Polygenic Risk and Environmental Interactions in Adolescent Polysubstance Use: a U.S. Population-Based Observational Study.

Polysubstance use (PSU), defined as the use of multiple psychoactive substances, is associated with a heightened risk of subsequent health issues, including substance use disorders. However, the interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures in PSU initiation during adolescence remains understudied. We examined associations of polygenic scores (PGSs) for general addiction risk, environmental factors, and their joint interactions with PSU initiation among 11,868 adolescents (aged 11-15 years) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. PSU status was assessed through interviews and toxicology screenings. Our sample included 7,898 adolescents (mean age 12.9 [0.6] years; 4,150 [53%] male). Of these, 541 (6.8%) had initiated single substance use (SSU), and 162 (2.1%) reported PSU). PGSs for general addiction risk were significantly associated with PSU (Odds Ratios [OR]=1.62, 95% CI=1.30-2.01) but not with SSU. Key environmental risk factors for PSU included prenatal substance use and peer victimization, whereas protective factors included planned pregnancy and positive family dynamics. Notably, gene-environment interaction analyses revealed that peer victimization (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.4-4.2), prenatal substance use (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.6), and substance availability (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.3-3.9) substantially increased PSU risk among adolescents with high genetic susceptibility, while having minimal influence at low genetic risk levels (all p < 0.05 after multiple testing correction). This study provides novel evidence linking polygenic risk to PSU in early adolescence and highlights PSU as a more severe manifestation of substance use liability driven by heightened genetic vulnerability and adverse environmental exposures.

HIV Incidence and Associated Risk Factors Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in Tianjin, China: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) have a higher risk of HIV infection. However, evidence of HIV incidence from large cohort studies is limited in this key population, particularly among Chinese YMSM. This study aimed to investigate the HIV incidence and associated risk factors among YMSM aged 16-24 years in Tianjin, China. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among men who have sex with men aged 16-24 years from October 2017 to December 2022 through the largest local nongovernmental organization serving men who have sex with men in Tianjin. Participants who responded to the investigations at least twice during the study period were included. They completed questionnaires on demographic information, sexual behaviors, psychoactive substance use, and sexually transmitted infection status. Simultaneously, their blood samples were collected for HIV testing. HIV incidence was calculated by dividing the sum of observed HIV seroconversions by the observed person-years (PYs). A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with HIV incidence. A total of 1367 HIV-negative YMSM were included in the cohort, among whom 62 seroconversions occurred, contributing 2384.2 observed PYs; the total incidence was 2.6 (95% CI 2.0-3.2) per 100 PYs. The segmented HIV incidence rates were 3 (95% CI 1.5-4.5), 2.4 (95% CI 1.5-3.3), and 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-3.9) per 100 PYs for 2017-2018, 2019-2020, and 2021-2022, respectively. Compared to YMSM who had been followed up fewer than three times, those followed up three or more times had a relatively lower risk of HIV infection (Adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 0.553, 95% CI 0.325-0.941). YMSM who preferred finding sexual partners offline had a higher risk of HIV infection compared to those who preferred finding sexual partners online (AHR 2.207, 95% CI 1.198-4.066). Compared to YMSM without syphilis, those infected with syphilis had an increased risk of HIV infection (AHR 2.234, 95% CI 1.137-4.391). Additionally, YMSM who used psychoactive substances had a higher risk of HIV infection compared to those who did not use such substances (AHR 2.467, 95% CI 1.408-4.321). Our study complements data on HIV incidence among YMSM in large cities across China. Syphilis infection and the use of psychoactive substances were risk factors associated with HIV occurrence, demonstrating an urgent need for tailored prevention and control interventions for this key population.

Psychedelic Use and Behavioral Addictions

ABSTRACT Recent clinical trials on classic psychedelics for depression and anxiety have raised questions about their potential to treat other psychiatric conditions. Evidence from pre-clinical and clinical research suggests psychedelics may help with substance use disorders, with ongoing registered trials. Behavioral addictions, sharing features with substance addictions, may also respond to psychedelic treatment. This study examined self-reported symptoms of problem gambling, sexual addiction, compulsive buying, and eating disorders in a community sample (N = 1107), alongside measures of well-being (self-transcendence, personal growth, depression/anxiety, etc.), and use of psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs. Significant positive correlations emerged among well-being measures and among behavioral addiction symptoms, with inverse correlations between well-being and behavioral addictions. Psychedelic users reported greater well-being and lower behavioral addiction symptoms, even after controlling for demographics and other drug use. Principal components analysis showed that behavioral addictions formed a single factor, which was combined into a composite score. Multiple regression analyses revealed that major stimulant, alcohol, and nicotine vaping use predicted higher behavioral addiction scores, while psychedelic use uniquely predicted lower scores. These findings suggest psychedelics may aid in treating behavioral addictions. A controlled pilot study or clinical trial is warranted to explore this therapeutic potential further.

Construction and Validation of Nursing Actions to Integrate Mobile Care-Educational Technology to Assist Individual in Psychic Distress.

The objective of this study is to describe the process of construction and content validation of a set of nursing actions to integrate a mobile educational technology to assist individuals in psychic distress in primary health care. This was a methodological study in four stages: scope review, qualitative research, elaboration of a set of nursing actions and content validation. It was carried out from December/2022 to December/2023, with 16 Brazilian specialists, a minimum Content Validity Index of 80% and Cronbach's Alpha (α). Six sets of actions were elaborated and evaluated: nursing actions in the initial assessment of the individual in psychic distress (99% α 0.47); nursing actions towards individuals in psychic distress with complaints associated with Depressive Disorder (93.4% α 0.84); nursing actions towards individuals in psychic distress with complaints associated with Anxiety Disorder (95.4% α 0.88); nursing actions towards individuals in psychic distress with Suicidal Ideation (96.3% α 0.71); nursing actions towards individuals in psychic distress resulting from the use of psychoactive substances (99.6% α 0.77) and; nursing actions towards individuals in psychic distress as a result of grief situations (98.6% α 0.28). The set of actions proved to be validated and to have acceptable reliability, thus contributing to supporting the development of educational technology. The conclusions of this research highlight the possibility for nurses to conduct nursing actions in the care of people in psychic distress, in a non-specialized context. In addition, this is a resource to improve the routine mental health care of nurses who work in primary health care.

The Content, Consistency and Accuracy of Stereotypes About Recreational Users of Various Psychoactive Substances

The Content, Consistency and Accuracy of Stereotypes About Recreational Users of Various Psychoactive Substances

Chemsex and Psychosexual Health in a Large Italian Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

Abstract Chemsex, the use of psychoactive substances during sexual activity, is prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and is associated with various health risks. Despite increasing global attention, research on chemsex in Italy remains scarce. This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence and characteristics of chemsex among Italian MSM, its associations with psycho-sexual health, and it sought to identify psychological, social, and health-related factors linked to the perception of chemsex as problematic. A total of 841 participants (mean age = 35.1, SD = 9.6) completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing chemsex practices, mental health, sexual health, and minority stress. Chemsex prevalence was found to be 18.2%, with an additional 10% expressing interest in the practice. The most used substances were inhalants (83.7%) and cocaine (45.8%). Chemsex participants had higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (χ2(1) = 27.78, p &lt; 0.001) but also reported greater use of preventive measures, such as PrEP (χ2(1) = 95.2, p &lt; 0.001). No significant differences in anxiety, substance use severity, or intraminority stress were found between chemsex and non-chemsex users. Chemsex participants displayed higher levels of sexual dysfunction (t(696) = 3.37, p &lt; 0.001), particularly in receptive and insertive anal sex and erectile function, but no differences in sexual satisfaction were observed. These findings challenge the applicability of the “identity process theory” (IPT) to the Italian MSM context, suggesting that chemsex motivations may extend beyond marginalization within the community. Participants perceiving their chemsex practice as problematic reported more negative consequences from this sexual practice (χ2(1) = 14.41, p &lt; 0.001) and lower satisfaction with sexual life (t(69) = 2.03, p = 0.046). This subgroup also sought professional help for substance use more frequently, highlighting the need for integrated mental health and substance use interventions (χ2(2) = 6.4, p = 0.041). These findings emphasize the importance of public policies and harm reduction programs to promote the well-being of MSM engaged in chemsex, with a focus on community-based interventions and peer support.

Factors Associated with the Use of Psychoactive Drugs, Anxiety and Depression in University Students

Factors Associated with the Use of Psychoactive Drugs, Anxiety and Depression in University Students

Psychoactive substance use in elderly patients: Insights from the addiction in intensive cardiac care units (ADDICT-ICCU) study.

Psychoactive substance use in elderly patients: Insights from the addiction in intensive cardiac care units (ADDICT-ICCU) study.

High ambient temperatures and mental health: Risks, methods and results

This work is an analytical review. Initial research data have been taken from original studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2014–2024. The following search terms were used when searching for English language sources in PubMed database: (mental health OR mental disorders OR mental illness OR suicide) AND (high ambient temperatures OR heat stress OR hot weather OR heat waves). Russian language sources were sought in eLibrary using the following keywords: mental health; mental disorders; mental diseases; suicide; high ambient temperatures; heat waves; global warming. The review has established the following. Effects produced by high ambient temperatures on mental health have only recently become a separate research topic within a broader context of ‘Climate Change and Population Health’ studies or, as the WHO terminology puts it, ‘Population Health under Changing Climate’. In contrast to five previous reports, the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change contains a bigger section on impacts exerted by climate on mental health. Scientific evidence suggests with high confidence that exposure to high ambient temperatures and heat waves causes mental disorders. These disorders include anxiety, depression, acute post-traumatic stress, suicidal behavior, and use of psychoactive substances; they are diagnosed as both mild disorders and severe cases that require hospital admission. Effects of heat stress on human psyche are caused by complex interactions between physiological and psychological factors. The human body tries to maintain the thermal balance and this induces a whole cascade of physiological reactions, ranging from increased heart rate to dehydration. Physiological strain undermines mental health and causes sleep disorders, irritability, mental fatigue and cognitive disorders.