title: Emerging trends in consuming behaviours for non-controlled substances by Italian urban youth: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated emerging trends in consuming behaviours for non-controlled substances in a cross sectional study on urban Italian adolescents and young adults, the reasons for consumption and risk perception as function of age, the relation with lifestyles and finally risk factors associated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey methodology involved the administration of an anonymous questionnaire. It consisted of 68 questions, divided into five sections: personal details, socioeconomic characteristics, family and peer group, free time and lifestyles, and substances use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2621 adolescents and young adults (14-35 years old) from seven different Italian cities answered the questionnaire. The substances examined were mainly used recreationally (alcohol, energy drinks and smart-drugs) or to improve physical and sexual performance (physical performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids and male sexual enhancement). The knowledge of the health related harm arising from the use of these products was very high for alcohol (> 90%), high for smart-drugs (> 70%), but significantly lower for anabolic steroids, drugs for sexual enhancement (~ 60%), physical performance-enhancing drugs or energy drinks (~ 55%). The principal risks factors for consumption were: the influence of friends (OR: 8.8), attending recreational places (OR: 5.4) aged between 25-35 years (OR: 3.0), be male (OR: 2.5) and having a bad relationship with the mother (OR: 2.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results have implication for prevention and early intervention programs of "physically and psychologically enhancing" non controlled substances use, which similarly to what is frequently advised for classical illicit drugs should focus on information campaigns and awareness initiatives especially addressed to young male adults who go clubbing, live outside the family and showed closed links with peers.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacifici
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Palmi
authors.affiliation: EXPLORA - Research and Statistical Analysis, Vigodarzere (PD), Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vian
authors.affiliation: EXPLORA - Research and Statistical Analysis, Vigodarzere (PD), Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mortali
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berretta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastrobattista
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pichini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs