TY - JOUR T1 - Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cannabis: How the Patterns of Use Differ: Results from the European Web Survey on Drugs JF - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Y1 - 2022 A1 - Hugo López-Pelayo A1 - Santiago Madero A1 - L. Gremeaux A1 - Sanna Rönkä A1 - João Matias KW - cannabis KW - new psychoactive substances KW - Synthetic cannabinoids KW - Web Survey on Drugs AB -

The aim of the current study is to assess if the patterns of use, socio-demographic characteristics,
and use of other drugs differ among people who only use cannabis and those that
use synthetic cannabinoids. Data from the second wave of the European Web Survey on
Drugs, a web-based cross-sectional survey from 10 different European countries including
individuals aged 18 and over (n = 37,109). Participation was anonymous, self-selecting,
and voluntary. Cannabinoid exposure was taken as the dependent variable and categorized
into the four following variables: (1) neither last year use of cannabis nor of synthetic
cannabinoids (SC) independently of lifetime use, (2) cannabis use, (3) synthetic cannabinoids
use, and (4) use of both, in the last 12 months. Independent variables included
socio-demographic data, other drug use in the last month, and patterns of cannabis use.
The use of SC was associated with higher odd of polysubstance use in the last year (OR
2.17; 95%CI 1.27–3.72) and use of other drugs during the last month. Low income (OR
2.34; 95%CI 1.20–4.58) and unemployment (OR 3.02; 95%CI 1.34–6.83) were related to
SC use alone and cannabis plus SC use (OR 1.53; 95%CI 1.13–2.05) (OR 4.12; 95%CI
3.45–4.91). Social vulnerabilities were associated with the use of cannabis in the last year,
but more markedly with synthetic cannabinoids use. Those who used synthetic cannabinoids
reported using other drugs more often than those who used or did not use cannabis.
The findings highlight the importance of social vulnerabilities and poly-drug use when
assessing the use of new psychoactive substances such as SC and how these differ when
compared to cannabis.

M3 - 10.1007/s11469-022-00919-6 ER -