New psychoactives within polydrug use trajectories-evidence from a mixed-method longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychiatry
• Criminology

Background:

• New psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a growing public health concern globally.
• Understanding the patterns of NPS use and associated risks is crucial for effective intervention.
• Limited research exists on the developmental pathways and decision-making factors influencing NPS use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the types and usage patterns of NPS.
• To explore developmental pathways into NPS use and decision-making factors.
• To identify the harms associated with NPS use.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase mixed-methods design was employed.
• Latent class analysis (LCA) of the Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS) data (n=2039).
• Narrative interviews with NPS users (n=84) and regression modeling.

Main Results:

• Four distinct classes of substance use were identified: alcohol; alcohol and tobacco; alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis; and polydrug use (including NPS).
• NPS were found to be integrated within a spectrum of polydrug use, from experimental to problematic.
• Qualitative analysis revealed a taxonomy of NPS use within broader drug repertoires.

Conclusions:

• NPS in Northern Ireland are predominantly associated with polydrug use rather than being used in isolation.
• Findings highlight the need for public health strategies to address NPS within the context of wider substance use patterns.
• Further research is warranted to understand the specific predictors and outcomes of NPS involvement in polydrug use.