Predictors of attitude toward substance users: a field study in Turkey

Objectives: We determine the factors related to the attitudes toward substance users and how these factors predict attitudes. Methods: The research was a field study. The control variables were gender and occupation. Health workers, teachers, prison guards, shopkeepers, university students, bartenders, and professional athletes were chosen by lottery method of simple random sampling. 350 people were reached. Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test, Addiction Profile Index Risk Scanning Scale-Alcohol, and Addictive Material Attitude Scale were used. T-test, ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test, analysis of effect size, and linear regression model were used. Results: Gender (1%), marital status (2%), residence (4%), occupation (9%), NUD (2%), risky alcohol use (12%), having people with AUD in the social circle (1%), having a substance user in the social circle (20%), being in a substance use environment (16%); neighborhood characteristics as crime (9%), drug use (5%), illicit drug selling (7%) were found predictors of the attitude. Conclusions: Demographical factors like being single, being a bartender, living with friends; substance-related risk factors; neighborhood characteristics like high crime, substance use, and illicit drug selling were predictors of positive attitude. Identifying the factors explaining the positive attitude will guide the determination of prevention and protection programs for society. © 2023 Taylor ; Francis Group, LLC

Cannabis, medical use and related policies reflections on society [Kannabis, tibbi kullanimi ve ilişkili politikalarin topluma yansimalari]

2-s2.0-85086270423Cannabis is one of the important food and textile resources that has been used since 4000 BC. The fact that it was used as a medicine by the Chinese caused it to be included in the oldest pharmacopoeia in the world. However, in the 20th century, marijuana production from cannabis was a turning point in cannabis history, and then led to the limitation of cultivation areas and use. Today, cannabis is the most popular illicit drug worldwide. Regular use of cannabis is associated with impaired functioning, decreased academic performance, amotivation, addiction and, psychiatric disorders like psychosis, schizophrenia and mood disorders. On the other hand, recent research proposed promising therapeutic potential of cannabis-based drugs for a wide range of medical conditions including neurological and psychiatric disorders. These findings have led to the legalization of medical use of cannabis in certain states of the United States and in certain European countries. In this review, cannabis use, the historical process of cannabis use, medical use of cannabis, possible consequences of medical use of cannabis and the reflections of cannabis-related policy changes on society will be discussed. © 2020 ANP Publishing. All rights reserved