Hard Drugs Research Articles

Soft drug epidemic in deterministic and stochastic case studies

Soft drug epidemic in deterministic and stochastic case studies

SOCIALIZATION OF THE DANGERS AND EFFECTS OF DRUG AND PSYCHOTROPIC USE FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE NATION (STOP DRUGS)

<p><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p>The service team carried out a community service program because the juvenile drug problem was already very worrying. The community really hopes that schools can prevent the harm and spread of drugs. However, there are several problems faced by the partner school, SMPN 1 Kras, including: the teacher council lacks the capacity and understanding of drug problems and dangers; lack of training and media socialization and education about the dangers of drugs; and lack of media development and socialization and education facilities about the dangers of drugs in partner schools. Departing from these problems, the service team provides solutions through community service activities, namely: a) Providing education to adolescents about: Dangers of Drugs and How to Avoid Drugs through training and seminars on the dangers of drugs, b) Improving the ability of adolescents to develop media used for socialization of the dangers of drugs. This service activity will be carried out for three days through training and socialization methods or methods. The results of the activity are known that there is an increase in understanding of various types of drugs, the impact on adolescents, and how to prevent them, Increasing the ability of adolescents, BK teachers, and homeroom teachers in making socialization and education media on the dangers of drugs using or utilizing social media, Building synergy of cooperation between partners and the service team of the BK study program of SMPN 1 KRAS in preventing the dangers of drugs for students at SMPN 1 KRAS in particular and the revitalization of the existence and role of PIK R in SMPN 1 KRAS to educate teenagers about the dangers of drugs.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: <em>NAPZA; Socialization; Adolescent.</em></p>

‘Vaping is a break from all of that’: Exploring attitudes, harm perceptions, cessation barriers and social dynamics among people who vape

Objective: Vaping, initially a smoking cessation aid, is now a widespread recreational activity sometimes associated with perceived health concerns. This study explored attitudes, harm perceptions and cessation barriers in the context of participants’ vaping behaviours, guided by the theoretical lens of fundamental social causes. Design and Setting: The study focused on a subset of 571 current adult vapers from a larger survey investigating vaping attitudes. It analysed open-text survey responses relating to vaping behaviours. To analyse the responses, we employed layered analyses, using deductive conceptual mapping to inform an inductive thematic content analysis. Results: Participants mentioned nuanced vaping risks, citing cancer and respiratory concerns, often comparing them to tobacco’s well-known harmful effects. Despite acknowledging vaping’s potential harms, participants perceived the practice to be less harmful than smoking, emphasising relative safety. Some viewed vaping positively for former smokers, contingent on regulated products. This complex attitude balance reflected the intricate interplay between health concerns and social dynamics. Recurrent vaping symbolised consistent engagement, with cravings and widespread availability associated with quitting challenges. Conclusions: Participants’ nuanced perceptions of health risks reflect a harm duopoly, resembling illicit drug harm tiering. There is a complex interplay between health knowledge and social influences in the context of vaping behaviours. Study findings underscore the need for messaging interventions discouraging vaping among those who do not smoke tobacco to consider these health and social dynamics, leveraging collaborative design.

Legal Protection For Consumers Related To The Circulation Of Hard Drugs By Unlicensed Drug Stores In Indonesia

One of the aspects of welfare that must be achieved in line with the national aspirations of Indonesia is public health, which is acknowledged as a fundamental right governed by the 1945 Constitution. However, there is a growing risk of hard drug misuse due to people's inclination to self-medicate without a prescription. Government Regulation Number 51 of 2009 and Law Number 17 of 2023 stipulate that only pharmacists with a prescription from a doctor are authorized to administer hard substances. Nonetheless, it is still common for illicit drug outlets to offer strong pharmaceuticals to customers without a prescription, which puts their health at risk. This study employs a normative juridical methodology that combines a case-based and statutory approach. Despite the legal protections for consumers regulated in Law Number 8 of 1999 (UUPK), many consumers do not understand their rights and obligations, so they are vulnerable to fraud and health risks. The findings of this research indicate the need for increased public awareness and stricter law enforcement to protect consumers from the misuse of hard drugs. As well as supervision by BPOM and the Public Health Office as an effort to control the circulation of hard drugs without a doctor's prescription, which are sold in drug stores that do not have a business license.

A Case Study on Cannabis Users’ Transition to and Addiction to Hard Drugs

A Case Study on Cannabis Users’ Transition to and Addiction to Hard Drugs

Relationships Among COVID-19-Related Service Uptake, HIV Status, Drug Use, and COVID-19 Antibody Status Among HIV Testing Intervention Participants in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

People living with HIV (PLWH) and people who use drugs are vulnerable populations who may face barriers to accessing health services and may have irregularities in immune function. People with undiagnosed HIV infection may be particularly likely to have compromised immune function. However, research about whether/how HIV status is related to COVID-19-related health outcomes has been equivocal, and research on the predictors of COVID-19-related health service access/uptake has been limited in Sub-Saharan African settings. Among 470 participants of a peer-recruitment-based HIV-testing intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, we examined whether HIV status and/or hard drug use were associated with uptake of COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and whether they moderated the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination status and COVID-19 IgG antibody status. Women were significantly more likely than men to report testing for COVID-19 (OR = 1.84; p = 0.002) and being vaccinated (OR = 1.79; p = 0.002). Neither HIV status nor drug use was associated with likelihood of getting tested or vaccinated. Vaccinated participants (90% of whom obtained vaccines more than 6 months before the study) were significantly more likely to test positive for COVID-19 IgG antibodies (OR = 6.86; p < 0.0005). This relationship held true for subgroups of PLWH and participants with previously undiagnosed/uncontrolled HIV infection, and was not moderated by HIV status or hard drug use. These findings may suggest that both people who use drugs and PLWH were served as well as other people by KwaZulu-Natal’s COVID-19 response. However, gender-based disparities in COVID-19 service uptake suggest that special care should be taken during future COVID-19 outbreaks or other new epidemics to improve access to related healthcare services among men in this region.

Unveiling the power of liquid chromatography in examining a library of degradable poly(2-oxazoline)s in nanomedicine applications.

A library of degradable poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) analogues (dPOx) with different length of the alkyl substituents was characterized in detail by gradient elution liquid chromatography. The hydrophobicity increased with increased side chain length as confirmed by a hydrophobicity row, established by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Those dPOx were cytocompatible and formed colloidally stable nanoparticle (NP) formulations with positive zeta potential. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that dPOx with increased hydrophobicity tended to form NPs with increased sizes. NPs created from the most hydrophobic polymer, degradable poly(2-nonyl-2-oxazoline) (dPNonOx), showed tendency for aggregation at pH 5.0, and in the presence of protease in solution, in particular for NPs formulated without surfactant. Liquid chromatography revealed enzymatic degradation of dPNonOx NPs, clearly demonstrating the disappearance of polymer signals and the appearance of hydrophilic degradation products eluting close to the chromatographic void time. The degradation process was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. dPNonOx NPs containing the anti-inflammatory drug BRP-201 as payload reduced 5-lipoxygenase activity in human neutrophils. Thereby, composition analysis of the resultant NPs, including drug quantification, was also enabled by liquid chromatography. The results indicate the importance of a detailed analysis of the final polymer-based NP formulations by a multimethod approach, including, next to standard applied techniques such as DLS/ELS, the underexplored potential of liquid chromatography. The latter is demonstrated to resolve a fine structure of solution composition, together with an assessment of possible degradation pathways and is versatile in determining hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of polymer materials. Our study underscores the power of liquid chromatography for characterization of soft matter drug carriers.

LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SELLING ANTIBIOTICS DRUGS WITHOUT DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION IN PHARMACIES

The use of antibiotic drugs is subject to statutory regulations, which require a doctor's prescription for purchase. Antibiotic drugs are classified as "list G drugs" or "hard drugs," and they can only be submitted with a doctor's prescription. The objective of this investigation is to examine the legal liability of pharmacies as sellers of antibiotics without a doctor's prescription and the legal repercussions for purchasers of antibiotics without a prescription. This research employs a form of normative legal research. This research employs a normative legal research method that employs primary data sources and secondary data, or data obtained through a statutory and conceptual approach. The results of this study are that the Pharmacist, as a pharmacy supervisor, is fully responsible for the delivery and collection of drugs to prevent unwanted events. Patients will not receive legal protection if they fail to comply with the Pharmacist's instructions to refrain from purchasing antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.

UK Khat Prohibition and the Making of a Harmful Drug

This article delves into the complex dynamics of khat (Catha edulis) prohibition in the UK, with a particular focus on a Somali community in north-west London. Despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs finding no substantial evidence of khat causing societal or medical harms and recommending public health interventions instead of prohibition, the UK Home Office classified khat as a Class C drug in June 2014. This decision raises critical questions about what constitutes a harmful drug. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted during the peak of prohibition discourse in 2013–14, the article explores how notions of harm operate across moral, political, and epistemological registers as people grapple with framing khat’s drug status and the effects of its use. It illustrates how prohibition discourse not only amplified perceptions of khat’s harmfulness but also sidelined the more nuanced concerns of Somali community members over persistent socioeconomic integration issues, mental health, and social marginalisation. Thus, the harm of khat may not lie in its potency as a psychoactive substance but as an object of prohibition that overshadows interventions to address the adverse conditions associated with its use among certain individuals.

BENEFÍCIOS E MALEFÍCIOS DAS NOVAS DROGAS PARA EMAGRECIMENTO: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

This integrative review examined the benefits and harms of the new weight-loss drugs, with an emphasis on GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide. These medications have demonstrated significant efficacy in inducing weight loss and controlling comorbidities associated with obesity. Studies, including Brazilian research, indicate that these drugs can promote a reduction in body weight of up to 12% in obese patients, in addition to substantial improvements in metabolic parameters, such as blood glucose and blood pressure. However, the most frequent adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, have been the main factors for stopping treatment. More serious complications, such as cholelithiasis and pancreatitis, have also been reported, although less frequently. In addition, the psychological impact of rapid weight loss requires careful monitoring, as patients may experience mood swings and increased anxiety. The lack of data on the long-term use of these medications in Brazilian populations underscores the urgent need for future investigations. Thus, despite the significant benefits, the use of these drugs must be carried out under close monitoring, considering the individual characteristics and risks of each patient, in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of the treatment in the long term.

Ethnoracial variation in school victimization and adolescent substance use

Adolescent substance abuse is a pressing public health concern. While a large literature has investigated factors linked to adolescent substance use and its outcomes, less research considers the intersection of race-ethnicity, school victimization, and substance use. The present study uses nationally representative data from the 2009–2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (n = 66,906) and insights from stress process and critical race perspectives to examine ethnoracial variation in associations between school victimization (i.e., bullied, threatened with a weapon, and feeling unsafe on the way to school) and use of substances (i.e., hard drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana). Results showed that all victimization measures were associated with significant increases in using all four substances. Compared with whites, Native Americans experienced higher odds of using most substances while Asians and Blacks were generally less likely to use substances. Race-ethnicity moderated victimization-substance use associations, but patterns diverged based on victimization form and substance under consideration. Threats involving a weapon were linked to greater hard drug use for white and Hispanic adolescents than Blacks. School safety concerns were associated with larger increases in Asian adolescents’ hard drug use than whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, and greater marijuana use for Hispanic and white adolescents relative to Blacks. This study complicates the significance of school victimization for substance use such that race-ethnicity factors to a great extent into the presence of associations.

Scanning Transmission Soft X-Ray Microscopy Probes Topical Drug Delivery of Rapamycin Facilitated by Microneedles.

Scanning Transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is a sensitive and selective probe for the penetration of rapamycin which is topically applied to human skin ex vivo and is facilitated by skin treatment with microneedles puncturing the skin. Inner-shell excitation serves as a selective probe for detecting rapamycin by changes in optical density as well as linear combination modeling using reference spectra of the most abundant species. The results indicate that mechanical damage induced by microneedles allows this drug to accumulate in the stratum corneum without reaching the viable skin layers. This is unlike intact skin which shows no drug penetration at all and underscores the mechanical impact of microneedle skin treatment. These results are compared to drug penetration profiles of other drugs highlighting the importance of skin barriers. High spatial resolution studies also indicate that the lipophilic drug rapamycin is observed in corneocytes. Attempts in data evaluation are reported to probe rapamycin also in the lipid layers between the corneocytes, which was not accomplished before. These results are compared to recent results on rapamycin uptake in skin where barrier impairment was induced by pre-treatment with the enzyme trypsin and drug formulations leading to occlusion.

Mechanistic insights into β-glucuronidase inhibition by isoprenylated flavonoids from Centaurea scoparia: Bridging experimental and computational approaches

Exploring the intricate mechanisms underlying the inhibition of β-glucuronidase, particularly the enzyme produced by gastrointestinal bacteria, is essential for the development of novel therapeutic interventions and pharmaceutical advancements. Inhibiting bacterial β-glucuronidase can prevent the reactivation of harmful drug metabolites in the gut, thereby reducing associated toxicities. The inhibitory potential of four isoprenylated flavonoids from Centaurea scoparia against β-glucuronidase was intensively investigated by combined in vitro and in silico tools. The results of in vitro inhibitory activity showed that Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, as evidenced by their low IC50 values of 3.65 ± 0.28 and 3.97 ± 0.11 μM, respectively. The enzyme kinetics analysis revealed that Compound 1 and the positive control drug (EGCG) follow a mixed inhibition mechanism. In contrast, compounds 3 and 4 exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition mode, as suggested by the intersection patterns observed in the Lineweaver-Burk plots. The docking studies corroborated the in vitro inhibitory assay results, with Compounds 1 and 3 demonstrating the lowest binding affinities and the highest extent of polar and hydrophobic interactions with residues in the enzyme's binding site. Utilizing a 200 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we examined the interaction dynamics between isolated flavonoids and β-glucuronidase. The analysis of multiple MD parameters revealed that compounds 1 and 3 maintained consistent trajectories and demonstrated significant energy stabilization when interacting with β-glucuronidase. These computational findings align with experimental results, highlighting the potential of compounds 1 and 3 as potent inhibitors for β-glucuronidase.

Magnitude of multiple drug use and determinants of vulnerability among chronic kidney disease inpatients in Ethiopia: a multi-center study

BackgroundPatients with chronic kidney disease frequently face various nutritional and metabolic problems that necessitate the use of multiple medications. This multiple drug use can lead to several drug-related problems including adverse drug events, hospital admissions, poor medication adherence, harmful drug interactions, inadequate therapeutic outcomes, and death. Despite these challenges, there is a notable lack of studies on the extent of multiple drug use and its determinants among patients with chronic kidney disease in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the magnitude of multiple drug use and identify the determinants of vulnerability among patients with chronic kidney disease in Ethiopia.MethodA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic kidney disease. Eligible participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Frequency and percentage calculations were performed for categorical variables, while means and standard deviations were used for continuous variables. The chi-square test and t-test were used to compare the proportions and means, respectively. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of multiple drug use, with statistical significance determined by a p-value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Guidelines and previous literature were utilized to assess the magnitude of multiple drug use.ResultsA total of 230 patients were enrolled, with more than half being male. The overall magnitude of multiple drug use was 83.0%. Diuretics being the most frequently prescribed medication class followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Patients aged 65 years and above (AOR = 4.91 (95% CI 1.60-15.03)), CKD stage five (AOR) = 5.48 (95% CI 1.99–15.09)), and the presence of comorbid conditions (AOR) = 3.53 (95% CI 1.55–8.06)) were significantly associated with multiple drug use.ConclusionChronic kidney disease patients exhibited a high rate of multiple drug use. The presence of comorbid conditions, disease progression and older age are significant determinates of this vulnerability. Health care providers should pay particular attention to these factors to manage and mitigate the risks associated with multiple drug use.

Learning personalized drug features and differentiated drug-pair interaction information for drug–drug interaction prediction

Multi-drug combination therapies are increasingly used for complex diseases but carry risks of harmful drug interactions. Effective drug–drug interaction prediction (DDIP) is essential for assessing risks among numerous drug pairs. Most DDIP methods involve two main steps: drug representation and drug pair interaction extraction, respectively challenged by the loss of personalized drug information and the need for differentiated interaction data, and are rarely studied. Specifically, personalized drug information refers to the distinct features of each drug. These properties can be easily confused by neighboring information during graph propagation. This issue is especially prominent in drug interaction graphs with long-tail distributions, which poses challenges for personalized drug information learning. Furthermore, it is crucial to learn interactions with differentiation in order to identify diverse drug relationships. Some methods simply concatenate drug features, often ignoring the differences of different drug relationships, while other methods based on substructures rely on professional pharmacological knowledge and are computationally complex. To address these issues, we propose a novel method, learning personalized Drug Features and differentiated Drug-Pair interaction information for drug–drug interaction prediction (DFPDDI). This approach employs a contrastive learning network with edge-aware augmentations and mutual information estimators to capture personalized drug features across various graph distributions. Furthermore, it applies a mutual information constraint to drug-pair representations, enhancing the accuracy of interaction predictions by better distinguishing between different types of drug relationships. The results evaluated on three public datasets demonstrate competitive performance compared to baselines. It also shows potential for accurate predictions, particularly in imbalanced-distribution graphs.

Ethosomes-mediated tryptanthrin delivery as efficient anti-psoriatic nanotherapy by enhancing topical drug absorption and lipid homeostasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, and refractory immune-mediated skin disease with the etiology and pharmaceutical targets remaining unsatisfactorily addressed. Topical herbal-derived compounds, such as tryptanthrin (Tryp), have been considered as an alternative therapy for psoriasis due to their lower costs and fewer side effects compared to other therapies. However, the effectiveness of topically administered drugs is substantially limited by the thickened pathological skin barrier and the low bioavailability of drugs in the deeper layers of the lesion. Ethosomes, being a novel phospholipid-based vesicle system with high content of ethanol, have been implicated in enhancing topical drug absorption and restoring psoriatic lesions. In this study, taking advantages of ethosomes as a soft and malleable drug carrier, we constructed the Tryp-loaded ethosome (Tryp-ES) through a one-step microfluidics-based technique. The optimal formulation of Tryp-ES was achieved by adding amino-acid-derived surfactant sodium lauroyl glutamate, and Tryp-ES exhibited homogeneous particle size and favorable stability at room temperature. In vitro evaluations showed that Tryp of Tryp-ES could be easily internalized into cells and accumulated in cell nuclei, hence inhibited the abnormally proliferated keratinocytes by inducing apoptosis. In vivo and in vitro assessment using psoritic skin of mice revealed that Tryp-ES had preferred skin retention and permeation of loaded drugs within the initial 1 h of topical administration, which could be attributed to transient disintegrations of cell membranes by ethosomes, thus improved cellular fluidity and permeability. Notably, a synergistic effect of ethosomes and Tryp was found in psoriatic mice. Tryp-ES-treated mice showed substantially ameliorated symptoms of psoriasis and reduced pathological alterations due to hyperplasia, inflammation and angiogenesis, without detectable local or systemic toxicities. Interestingly, lipidomics analysis confirmed that the supplementation of phospholipids, as in the form of ethosome vehicles, was an alterantive strategy to relieve psoriatic pathologies. Taken together, this study provides a novel impact for ethosomal topical delivery of Tryp and underlines their potential as an effective therapy for the management of psoriasis.

The nephroprotective potential of selected synthetic compound against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

BackgroundNephrotoxicity, the rapid impairment of kidney function caused by harmful drugs and chemicals, affects about 20% of cases and is projected to become a leading cause of death by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Gentamicin (GM), an aminoglycoside antibiotic is one of the well know drugs/chemicals to cause nephrotoxicity both in humans and animals.MethodsA study on the effects of a synthetic phenolic compound, called 5-a, on GM-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats was conducted. The rats were grouped into five groups: normal control (NC), GM control (GM), positive control (GM + Dexa), treatment I (GM + 5-a 5 mg/kg) and treatment II (GM + 5-a 10 mg/kg). Throughout the experiment, the rats’ weights were monitored, and at its conclusion, their serum and kidney tissues were analyzed for renal function indicators and inflammatory markers. The study also included histopathological evaluations, molecular docking studies, blood and urine analyses for electrolyte changes, and behavioural assessments for central nervous system impact.Results2-{5-[(2-hydroxyethyl)-sulfanyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl} phenol (5-a) significantly protected against renal damage by reducing inflammatory markers, improving antioxidant defences, and decreasing kidney injury, particularly at higher doses. The findings suggest that compound 5-a, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, could be a promising therapeutic option for reducing gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and potentially for other kidney disorders in the future.ConclusionThese findings highlight the therapeutic effects of compound 5-a in alleviating gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Key stakeholders’ perspectives of illicit drug use and associated harms in the Northern Territory of Australia

BackgroundIn the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, there are significant evidence gaps about illicit drug use and harms, despite having established monitoring and reporting systems. This paper reports on illicit drug use, associated harms, contributing factors, service needs and priorities in the NT from the perspective and experiences of key stakeholders engaged in providing services for, or advocating on behalf of, people who use illicit drugs in the NT.MethodsFace-to-face and online qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders across urban and remote locations in the NT. Key stakeholders were service providers, including acute and primary care clinicians, representatives of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, lived experience advocates, peak body representatives and public health executives. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.ResultsFour researchers interviewed 21 participants across urban (62%), and remote areas (38%) of the NT. Themes identified were: (1) Illicit drug use and harms are diverse and distinct; (2) Client support needs are complex and influenced by co-morbidities, socio-demographic and cultural factors; (3) Priority population sub-groups need targeted strategies; (4) Local service strengths can be further developed and enhanced; (5) Local services need better resourcing; (6) Invest in progressive legislative and policy reforms; and (7) Improve routine monitoring and evaluation.ConclusionsKey stakeholders described illicit drug use, harms and contributing factors, which provided insights into the local challenges. Participants emphasised that clients have complex care needs, and further investment into targeted strategies are required to improve service engagement with priority groups. Service needs included greater understanding the role of dual diagnosis and its implementation and enhancing integrated and collaborative care in both primary health and acute care contexts. The voices of people with lived experience captured in this paper must inform local strategy and policy development relating to illicit drug use, in alignment with national strategy.

Behavioural patterns and dangers: a mixed-methods exploration of simultaneous polysubstance use and intervention strategies among Swiss adolescents.

Recent trends in Switzerland indicate a concerning rise in simultaneous polysubstance use among adolescents, a practice marked by the concurrent or sequential consumption of multiple psychoactive substances, notably alcohol and cannabis, alongside prescription medications (e.g. benzodiazepines) and illicit drugs, resulting in dozens of fatal outcomes. However, data on simultaneous polysubstance use and evidence-based approaches to effective prevention is lacking. The study aimed to explore and gain insights into use patterns, use settings, use motives, harm-reduction strategies, concerns associated with substance use, and support and counselling services from the point of view of adolescents practicing simultaneous polysubstance use in Switzerland. An exploratory study was conducted via an online survey (n = 116) and two focus group discussions with affected Swiss adolescents aged 14 to 20. A mixed-methods approach was applied to gain insights and better understand the phenomenon of simultaneous polysubstance use among Swiss adolescents. Quantitative survey data obtained between November 2021 and March 2023 by means of convenience sampling - organised by distributing flyers (in three national languages) among several project partners, on the internet, over social media and by word of mouth - was analysed descriptively, whereas qualitative survey data and focus group data were thematically explored. A concurrent nested design was employed, utilising quantitative findings as a core foundation for addressing research questions, while qualitative findings were instrumental in validating and providing contextual depth to the results. Our findings reveal a preference of the sample for combining alcohol with cannabis and/or other substances (e.g. benzodiazepines or hard drugs) in social settings, driven by diverse motives, including enhancement of experiences and partly maladaptive coping mechanisms leading to self-medication. Despite some awareness of the potential harms, there is a significant reliance on peer-shared strategies for harm reduction, highlighting a gap in formal support and counselling services, some of which are perceived by adolescents as lacking empathy and relevance. This study underscores the urgency of developing targeted, youth-centred interventions that resonate with the lived realities of adolescents, aiming not only to reduce substance use but also to address the broader psychosocial factors contributing to simultaneous polysubstance use. By shedding light on the complex dynamics of adolescent polysubstance use, our research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on effective prevention strategies, advocating for a holistic approach encompassing education, policy reform and community support to tackle this multifaceted public health challenge.

Mathematical Modeling of the Dynamics of Psychoactive Drug Abuse with Intervention of Control Agencies

Drug abuse continues to pose a significant threat to both developed and developing countries. This paper examines the dynamics of psychoactive drug abuse with intervention of control agencies. The study established that the drug abuse model remains positively invariant over time, as indicated by the positivity of the solutions to the model equations. The study identified both drug abuse endemic and drug abuse free equilibrium states. Basic reproduction number was obtained using the method of next generation matrix. The local stability of the drug abuse free equilibrium state was analyzed using Jacobian method and the analysis showed that the drug abuse free equilibrium state is locally asymptotically stable since all the Eigen values are negative. Similarly, the global stability analysis of the drug abuse free equilibrium state confirmed that the system is globally asymptotically stable. The sensitivity index was computed. The results indicate that parameters with positive sensitivity indices increase the prevalence, while those with negative sensitivity indices decrease it. This suggests that these parameters have the ability to either increase or decrease the persistence of drug abuse in the population. The numerical simulation of the model was performed using MATLAB R2015a software and results show that enlightenment and law enforcement agencies play a vital role in reducing the spread of drug abuse. This research recommends intensification of early enlightenment to curtail the spread of drug abuse. Also making more policies, enactment and enforcement of more laws that will check the use of hard drugs