title: Synthetic Cannabinoids: Use and Predictors in a Community Sample of Young Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a class of drugs of abuse with deleterious consequences. Despite governmental regulations related to distribution and sale, SC variants are still available online. More research is needed to determine SC use prevalence and factors associated with SC use, especially among young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand eighty individuals, 18-25 years old, were surveyed, between January 2012 and July 2013, during recruitment for a randomized controlled trial investigating health behaviors in young adults. Advertisements were placed online and in community locations seeking individuals "who had recently used marijuana or alcohol." Respondents were queried about their use of alcohol and drugs, including SCs, in the last month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants averaged 21.4 years old and were 53.4% male. Nearly 59% were non-Hispanic white, 15% were African American, 15% were Hispanic, and 11% identified as other. Approximately 9% reported SC use in the last month, a level higher than the reported use of opioids, cocaine, or hallucinogens. SC use was significantly associated with male gender, not being enrolled in school, and with use of cigarettes, binge alcohol drinking, daily and weekly marijuana use, and other drugs of abuse. There was a significant decrease in SC use after the federal ban in July 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC use was common in the past month and often overlaps with other drug use, particularly marijuana use, and should be asked about during clinical encounters with young adults.
authors.affiliation: a General Medicine Research Unit, Butler Hospital , Providence , Rhode Island , USA.
authors.forename: Celeste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Caviness
authors.forename: Golfo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzilos
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids
keywords: Community sample; Spice; synthetic cannabinoids; young adults