Citation

Palamar JJ, Rutherford C, Keyes KM. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019; 196: 86-90.

Affiliation

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Center for Research on Society and Health,Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.12.014

PMID

30709657

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Use of synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as "bath salts", has been associated with tens of thousands of emergency department visits in the US; however, few national studies have estimated prevalence of use and we know very little about use among adolescents. In this study we estimate prevalence and correlates of use of "Flakka" (alpha-PVP), a highly-potent "bath salt" associated with at least 80 deaths in the US.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2016/2017 Monitoring the Future study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of high school seniors in the US (n = 3786). Bivariable and multivariable models were used to determine demographic and drug-related correlates of use.

RESULTS: Overall, 0.8% (95% CI: 0.5-1.2) of high school seniors in 2016/2017 is estimated to have used Flakka in the past year. Students whose parents have less than a high school education were at higher odds for use (aOR = 4.12, 95% CI: 1.00-16.94). Flakka users reported high prevalence of use of other drugs, particularly synthetic cannabinoids (85.6%), ketamine (72.3%), marijuana (59.1%), and GHB (47.5%). Flakka use was also associated with use of a higher number of other drugs and higher frequency of use of other drugs, with 51.7% using 4-12 other drugs and 22.4% using 4-12 other drugs >6 times.

CONCLUSIONS: Students who use multiple drugs are elevated risk for Flakka use, suggesting synthetic cathinone use alone is rare and the use of multiple substances may compound adverse effects of these drugs. Socio-economic disparities are concerning given reduced access to prevention and intervention.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Polydrug use; Synthetic cathinones