NPS users attitude, behaviours and recommendation for response

Transcription

1 NPS users attitude, behaviours and recommendation for response Artur Malczewski Retiox Focal Point National Bureau for Drug Prevention Uniwersity SWSP EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL DRUG RESEARCH 27th ANNUAL CONFERENCE FRANKFURT, SEPTEMBER 2016

2 I-TREND: 5 partners WS4 Chemical analysis WS1 Forums WS 5 NPS Top list & Technical Folders WS3 Online Survey (4 countries) w w w. o f d t. f r WS2 Online Shops European project JUST/2012/DPIP/AG/3641 co-financed by the Drug Prevention and Information Program of the European Union. Czech Republic CUNI First Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague. France OFDT (coordinator) French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Paris. Poland SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw. The Netherlands TRIMBOS TRIMBOS Institute, Utrecht. United Kingdom LJMU Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University.

3 Internet Tools for Research in Europe on New Drugs (I- TREND): interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to substances, users and markets, Workstream 3 - Online survey for people who use new psychoactive substances (Deliverable No. 1) International survey report Authors: Piotr Sałustowicz, Artur Malczewski in cooperation with: Vendula Belackova (Cz),Tibor Brunt (NL), Marta Jabłońska (PL), Sławomir Mandes (PL), Agnes Cadet Tairou (Fr), Emmanuel Lahaie (Fr)

4 On-line survey The I-Trend online survey was conducted between July and November 2014 Promotion of the survey began 7 July 2014 in most of the country during diffrent channel: webapges, facebook, s, general media etc The general rule was that the survey was addressed to people who had had experience with NPS (have used at least once) Comparison of results in different countries was subject to restrictions. The total number of respondents is 2 323; Poland 1355; France 536; the Netherlands 266; and the Czech Republic 166. Male respondents represent the majority (72%). The age age group predominates among respondents (72%). Average age: Polish respondents it is 20 years; for French respondents it is 28; for Dutch respondents it is 26; for Czech respondents it is 24.

5 Have you used the following substances in the last 12 months? Alcohol Cannabis 64,7% 95,2% 86,8% 89,2% 90,7% 88,0% 81,5% 79,8% MDMA, ecstasy, amphetamine 42,4% 5 70,3% 64,2% New Psychoactive Substance 20,5% 25,8% 40,2% 87,7% Czech Republic Netherlands Hallucinogens 17,1% 39,2% 51,1% 57,3% France Poland Cocaine 12,3% 25,3% 37,2% 54,7% Heroin or buprenorphine Inhalants, glue 3,0% 2,6% 4,6% 4,2% 4,5% 17,3% 17,9% 22,0%

6 What are the most important intended effects that you seek when you used the substance (NPS) you selected? (several answers are possible) (%) To stimulate brain activity for learning or work To relax To fight tiredness To fight sleeplessness To allay or alleviate anxiety To soothe pain To modify perception To reduce the negative effects of another drug To increase the positive effects of another drug To improve sexual intercourse To provides me energy (sexual performance not included) To get high To bond with others, to socialize 0 1,2 1,2 4,7 1,9 3,8 6,5 3,7 4,7 6,1 1,9 5 8,5 8,6 8,1 6,2 4,1 7,1 12, ,8 9,5 11,3 11,3 15, ,2 17,7 14,8 19,9 24,2 24,4 24,5 26,7 30,6 33,9 39, ,3 41,6 38, ,3 41,6 45,2 47,1 54,7 57,8 61,6 62,9 61,7 Czech Republic Netherlands France Poland

7 What were the circumstances the last time you used the substance you selected (NPS)? (several answers possible) In a company of friends outside home/in the backyard 5,6% 15,9% 25,8% 35,4% In a company of friends at home 17,7% 29,0% 29,9% 42,1% In a company of friends in a club, pub or at a party 11,7% 17,6% 35,5% 44,4% Alone at home 11,3% 15,4% 17,9% 10,7% Czech Republic Netherlands Other circumstances 1,6% 4,3% 1,7% 4,1% France Poland At school/work 4,8% 0,9% 3,8% Alone outside home/in the backyard 2,9% 2,7% Alone in a club, pub or at a party 3,2% 1,2% 1,2% 1,6%

8 In relation to the NPS you last used, do you consider that you had enough information on the following aspects? (several answers possible) Information on routes of administation 84,9% 76,1% 73,1% 83,2% Information on effects 52,8% 50,2% 67,0% 63,7% Information on legality or illegality 71,7% 56,9% 72,4% 61,5% Czech Republic Netherlands Information on a necessary dose to reach a desired effect 43,4% 59,6% 54,9% 60,3% France Poland Information on health risks 22,9% 19,6% 39,6% 55,5% Information on a safe dose 41,5% 59,6% 47,0% 52,6%

9 What were the most important criteria for you when you selected NPS shops in the last 12 months? (no more than 5) Recommendations by other users I had positive experiences with the shop Favourable opinions of the store at other websites where customers share their experiences (e.g. SafeOrScam) The substances are of higher quality than at other online stores It was chaper than other online stores The substance was shipped in unobtrusive packaging The website uses secure payment methods No particular criterion Shipping was more reliable than at other websites It specializes in one substance The substance I was looking for wasn't available at other online stores No online store ships the substance I'm looking for to my country Other 4,6% 8,6% 3,4% 8,1% 5,9% 3,2% 6,9% 5,4% 1,6% 17,2% 9,2% 13,1% 18,4% 14,9% 18,9% 16,8% 14,8% 10,3% 15,3% 11,2% 28,7% 29,3% 29,6% 35,3% 21,8% 28,4% 23,5% 26,4% 26,6% 25,2% 29,4% 29,7% 22,0% 23,5% 38,7% 48,3% 36,9% 43,6% 39,2% 47,1% 51,6% 47,1% 52,3% 64,7% 67,6% 64,7% Czech Republic Netherlands France Poland

10 Where did you look for information about NPS? (several answers possible) Friends/family 39,9% 29,6% 46,8% 51,3% I have no information 6,0% 3,1% 29,0% Online discussion forums 28,7% 5 68,8% 86,9% I don't need any information My dealer Other 12,9% 0,5% 4,9% 24,5% 16,1% 8,5% 4,9% 11,8% 19,4% 11,0% 16,0% 9,2% Czech Republic Netherlands France Poland Online store Television/radio 3,2% 4,0% 6,0% 9,7% 8,6% 21,1% 18,0% 14,9% Newspapers, magazines 3,2% 7,7% 4,1% 67,8%

11 Mode of purchasing selected NPS Bought from a friend who is a dealer 14,50% Q only in Czech Republic Other I made it myself 1,60% 6,40% 3,40% 8,90% 1,60% 0,00% 0,30% 0 Bought it from a shop (not online) Bought from a classified ad online Bought from a shop online 2,60% 1,80% 0,00% 0 1,20% 1,10% 9,70% 17,20% 19,40% 13,70% 46,20% 43,90% Czech Republic Netherlands France Poland Bought from a dealer 8,10% 11,50% 11,00% 12,10% Bought from a friend who is not a dealer 14,50% 17,90% 15,00% 14,10% Given it by someone for free 15,40% 23,30% 30,60% 32,00%

12 Did you you feel anything unpleasant after used the NPS last time (yes answers) , , ,3 43, Poland France Nethrlands Czech Republic The most frequent negative consequences related to the NPS use varied across countries: strong paranoia, fear, anxiety (PL 52%; FR 37%), sweating (NL 41%), extreme agitation and excitement (CZ -56%). Few NPS users who felt negative consequences sought medical assistance (PL-6%, FR -4%, NL -5%, CZ -4%).

13 100% NPS detected as labelled 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% France Netherlands UK Poland Source: I-TREND report on substance analysis (Workstream 4)

14 100% Purity NPS 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% France Poland Netherlands UK Source: I-TREND report on substance analysis (Workstream 4)

15 NPS in Poland purchase results ease of purchase: swift shipment, no joke parcels benefits: free samples, loyalty points selling products other than advertised e.g. product contained penthedrone instead of alpha-pvp the same price per gram, the same store but different potency (one parcel two products): 1. ETH-CAT: 37%, 2. ETH-CAT: 99% slightly cheaper but 50% less potent: UR-144 for PLN 70 per gram (70%) and PLN 60 per gram (34%) AM-2201 cheaper with similar potency: 53%-PLN 50 per gram, 51%-PLN 70 per gram 3,4-DMMC. One store offered a gram of this substance for PLN 19 (70%) and at another outlet equally potent substance was sold for over a dozen zlotys more PLN 35 (71%). Anyway, the buyer got penthedrone in both cases

16 Medical interventions due to NPS using in Poland I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Source: dr.n.med. Piotr Burda, Krajowy Konsultant ds. Toksykologii Klinicznej,

17 Conclusions/recommendations In view of the fact that one of the distribution channels is the Internet, it is worth considering this environment as a platform for preventive and educational interventions, especially harm reduction. The latter should be based on the knowledge and experiences of psychonauts, who often share their knowledge at online drug forums. The survey results have shown that recommendations of others have impact on the choice of shops among users. Peer-to-peer education may help to decrease the number of overdoses. it is worth introducing education and harm reduction action before next strong action against NPS. NPS testing programmes might prove useful, if we consider that e.g. every third NPS (research chemical) purchased under the I-TREND project in Poland contained a substance other than the one reported by the seller.