Drug use and possession, emerging of new psychoactive substances in the West Bank, Palestine

The criminal activity of trafficking and illicit drug use is developing rapidly, new psychoactive substances are emerging at a rapid pace and represent a major threat to the health and safety of individuals. The actual crime in the case of trafficking and illicit drug use offence must be determined in terms of size the participants and causes. The distinction between real crime and apparent crime is defined as the "dark number or hidden figure of crime" (Rădulescu S., 1999, 189) The use of this concept is specifically used in the case of the number of crimes committed and remained unknown to the society, for various reasons. In the forensic investigation of the crime of trafficking and illicit drug use, the research activity is carried out with great difficulties, because one of the forms of crime with the highest rate of the dark number of crime and almost impossible to estimate is the illicit trafficking and consumption of drugs, as victims are most often accomplice in this form of crime, and establishing the diversity of substances that fall into the narcotic sphere is relative.

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Using biomarkers in wastewater to monitor community drug use: A conceptual approach for dealing with new psychoactive substances

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.057 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 487 ◽

pp. 651-658 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Malcolm J. Reid ◽

J.A. Baz-Lomba ◽

Yeonsuk Ryu ◽

Kevin V. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

New Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Conceptual Approach

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The challenge of complex drug use: Associated use of codeine-containing medicines and new psychoactive substances in a European cross-sectional online population

Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental ◽

10.1002/hup.2611 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. e2611

Author(s):

Andreas Kimergård ◽

Michelle Foley ◽

Zoe Davey ◽

Elle Wadsworth ◽

Colin Drummond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

New Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Complex Drug

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The relationship between severity of drug problems and perceived interdependence of drug use and sexual intercourse among adult males in drug addiction rehabilitation centers in Japan

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-020-00339-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Risa Yamada ◽

Takuya Shimane ◽

Ayumi Kondo ◽

Masako Yonezawa ◽

Toshihiko Matsumoto

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Drug Addiction ◽

New Psychoactive Substances ◽

Adult Males ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Unprotected Sexual Intercourse ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

Drug Problems ◽

Primary Drug

Abstract Background Consuming drugs in conjunction with sexual intercourse may shape the perceived interdependence of drug use and sexual intercourse (PIDS). Additionally, the severity of drug problems may have a significant impact on PIDS. However, this relationship remains unverified. Therefore, this study investigates whether the severity of drug problems is associated with PIDS among adult males in drug addiction rehabilitation centers (DARC) in Japan. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of the “DARC Follow-Up Study in Japan” conducted by the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in 2016, in which participants from 46 facilities completed a self-report questionnaire. A total of 440 males with drug dependence were included in the analysis. We analyzed participants’ demographic characteristics, history of sexually transmitted disease diagnoses, and responses to questions related to drug use (e.g., primary drug use and PIDS). Additionally, we measured the severity of drug problems using the Japanese version of the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST-20). Results The median age of the participants was 42 years. The median DAST-20 score was 14.0, the primary drug was methamphetamine (61.4%) and new psychoactive substances (NPS: 13.6%). Multivariate analysis indicated that participants’ experiences with unprotected sexual intercourse (“mostly a non-condom user”: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.410), methamphetamine use (AOR = 3.220), new psychoactive substances use (AOR = 2.744), and the DAST-20 score (AOR = 1.093) were associated with PIDS. Conclusions This study indicated that the frequency of unprotected sexual intercourse under the influence of drugs, methamphetamine and NPS use were strongly associated with PIDS. The severity of drug problems was also significantly associated with PIDS. It is necessary to develop culturally appropriate treatment programs adapted to the needs of patients who experience strong PIDS.

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