title: Novel psychoactive substances: use and knowledge among adolescents and young adults in urban and rural areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are new psychotropic drugs, not scheduled under the International Conventions on Psychotropic Substances, but which may pose a relevant public health threat. In this study, we investigated knowledge and use of NPS in a sample of Italian youth in urban and rural areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2012 and October 2013, we administered a questionnaire to a sample of 3011 healthy subjects (44.7% men; 55.3% women), aged between 16 and 24 years and recruited in urban, intermediate and rural areas of Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the global sample, 53.3% declared to have some knowledge on NPS, with a higher knowledge in urban areas. Mephedrone (26%), desomorphine (22.6%) and methamphetamine (21.7%) were the most commonly known drugs. NPS use was reported by 4.7% of the sample, without significant differences between urban and rural areas; mephedrone (3.3%), synthetic cannabinoids (1.2%) and Salvia divinorum (0.3%) consumption has been identified. NPS use was also predictive of binge-drinking behaviours (χ(2) (4) = 929.58, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urban areas may represent a focal point for preventive strategies, given the presence of higher levels of NPS knowledge. Moreover, the association between binge-drinking habits and NPS use was really strong. This issue should not be underestimated because of its medical, psychopathological and social consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lupi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Humanities and Territory, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cinosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santacroce
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Acciavatti
authors.affiliation: Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chillemi
authors.affiliation: Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonifaci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, " G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giannantonio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: addiction; adolescents; novel psychoactive substances; young adults