Browsing by Author "Hearne, E."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Discriminative characteristics of marginalised novel psychoactive users: a transnational studyPublication . Felvinczi, Katalin; Benschop, Annemieke; Urbán, R.; Van Hout, Marie Claire; Dąbrowska, K.; Hearne, E.; Henriques, Susana; Kaló, Z.; Kamphausen, G.; Silva, Joana Paula; Wieczorek, Łukasz; Werse, Bernd; Bujalski, Michal; Demetrovics, Zsolt; Korf, D.New psychoactive substances (NPS) continue to be considered as a major public health concern in many European countries. The study was implemented within the framework of a transnational project of six European countries (Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal). Our aim here is to report on the distinct and differentiating characteristics of marginalised NPS users. Three subgroups of a total of 3023 adult NPS users (socially marginalised, night life, online community) were examined regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, substance use, and external motives towards NPS use. Poland and Hungary reported higher rates of NPS use in comparison to traditional controlled drugs. The external/contextual motives did not play a central role in the background of NPS use, the least important motives were alleged legality and non-detectability of these substances. Marginalised (defined as those accessing low threshold harm reduction services) users’ substance use patterns are different from the other two groups in terms of showing more intense and riskier drug use. The most important variables which contributed to be categorised as a marginalised NPS user were lower level education, being older, having an unfavourable labour market position and using drugs intravenously. Contextual motives did not play a decisive role in being categorised as a marginalised user when drug use pattern was controlled. These identified discriminative features of marginalised drug users should inform policy makers to develop and implement tailor-made interventions targeting this user group to successfully tackle the elevated public health concerns associated with NPS use.
- Why do people use new psychoactive substances?: Development of a new measurement tool in six European countriesPublication . Benschop, Annemieke; Urbán, R.; Kapitány-Fövény, M.; Van Hout, Marie Claire; Dąbrowska, K.; Felvinczi, Katalin; Hearne, E.; Henriques, Susana; Kaló, Z.; Kamphausen, G.; Silva, Joana Paula; Wieczorek, Łukasz; Werse, Bernd; Bujalski, Michal; Korf, D.; Demetrovics, ZsoltIntroduction: New psychoactive substances (NPS) pose a public health threat. Many studies have tried to identify the reasons of NPS use; however, none of them have so far used any standardised measures. The aim of this study was (i) to develop and cross-culturally validate the New Psychoactive Substance Use Motives Measure (NPSMM) and (ii) to compare motives of NPS use across countries and user types. Methods: Three subgroups (socially marginalised users, nightlife attendees and members of online communities) of NPS users (N = 3023) were recruited from six EU member countries. Demographics, motives and types of NPS used were assessed. NPS use motives were measured by adapting the extended six-factor version of the Marijuana Motives Measure. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a similar five-factor solution across most of the countries: coping, enhancement, social, conformity and expansion motives. Marginalised users scored higher on coping and conformity motives, nightlife groups showed higher endorsement of social motive, whereas online community users showed higher scores on expansion motives. Various types of NPS were also associated with different motives. Conclusion: NPS use motives might be associated with both the groups of users and the specific types of NPS being consumed. Expansion (psychedelics) and enhancement (stimulants) motives seemed to be linked to the chosen NPS product type, while coping, social and conformity motives were rather associated with user groups. NPSMM was found to be a valid instrument to measure NPS motives.