Use of new psychoactive substances among the general population in Croatia: Patterns of use and sociodemographic characteristics of users

Cilj istraživanja bio je prikupiti podatke o prevalenciji uporabe novih psihoaktivnih tvari (NPT) u općoj populaciji Republike Hrvatske, o obrascima uporabe NPT-a i karakteristikama konzumenata NPT-a. Podaci o uporabi NTP-a, o obrascima uporabe NTP-a, o uporabi legalnih i ilegalnih droga te sociodemografski podaci o sudionicima prikupljeni su empirijskim istraživanjem na reprezentativnom uzorku građana Republike Hrvatske u dobi od 15 do 64 godine (N = 4992). Životna prevalencija uporabe NPT-a u Hrvatskoj bila je 2,7%, a prevalencija uporabe u posljednjih godinu dana 1,3%. Najčešće korišten oblik NPT-a bile su biljne mješavine za pušenje (76,2%), a većina konzumenata dobila je ili kupila NPT od prijatelja (69%). Većina konzumenata NPT-a bili su muškarci (75,4%), mlađi odrasli u dobi od 15 do 34 godine (75,8%), samci (73,1%), oni sa završenom srednjom školom (68%), oni koji polaze srednju školu ili su studenti (39,4%), zaposleni (33,1%) ili samozaposleni (7,2%). Konzumenti NPT-a navode vrlo visoku prevalenciju uporabe legalnih (79,5% duhan, 89,9% alkohol, dok se 57,5% opijalo) i ilegalnih droga (55,6%, najčešće kanabisa) u mjesecu koji je prethodio istraživanju. Visoka životna prevalencija uporabe ilegalnih droga utvrđena je za amfetamine (42,5%), ecstacy (35,4%) i kokain (23,9%). Zaključno, životna prevalencija uporabe NPT-a među općom populacijom u Hrvatskoj relativno je niska. Većina konzumenata NPT-a su mladi muškarci, samci, koji iskazuju obrasce poliuporabe droga. Zbog ozbiljnih rizika povezanih s uporabom NPT-a, prevencija bi trebala biti jedan od prioriteta nacionalne politike vezane uz droge.The aim of this study is to provide information on the prevalence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) use among the general population in Croatia, patterns of NPS use and characteristics of NPS users. The data on NPS use, patterns of NPS use, licit and illicit substance use, and general information on participants, were gathered by empirical research on a nationally representative sample of Croatian adults aged 15-64 years (N = 4992). Lifetime prevalence of NPS use in Croatia was 2.7%, and last year 1.3%. The most common form of NPS used was herbal smoking mixtures (76.2%), and most users have been given or bought NPS from a friend (69%). Most NPS users were male (75.4%), young adults between 15-34 years (75.8%), single (73.1%), had a high school education (68%), and currently were either high school or university students (39.4%), employed (33.1%) or self-employed (7.2%). NPS users have reported very high prevalence of use of licit (79.5% tobacco, 89.9% alcohol, and 57.5% had an episode of binge drinking) and illicit substances (55.6%, most commonly cannabis) over the month preceding the survey. High lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use was found for amphetamines (42.5%), ecstasy (35.4%), LSD (24.6%), and cocaine (23.9%). In Croatia, the lifetime prevalence of NPS use is relatively low among the general population. Most NPS users are single young males who exhibit patterns of polydrug use. Due to serious risks associated with NPS use, prevention should be one of the national drug policy priorities