Prevalence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Brazil based on oral fluid analysis of samples collected at electronic music festivals and parties.

BACKGROUND: New psychoactive substances (NPS) use is a worldwide public health issue. Knowing the prevalence of NPS guides public health and legal policies to address the problem. The objective of this study was to identify NPS in Brazil through the analysis of oral fluid (OF) samples collected at parties and electronic music festivals. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires and oral fluid samples were collected from volunteers (≥18 years) who reported the consumption of at least one illicit psychoactive substance in the last 24 h. Oral fluid sample collections occurred at eleven parties and two electronic music festivals over 16 months (2018-2020). Questionnaire answers were matched to oral fluid toxicological results. RESULTS: Of 462 oral fluid samples, 39.2 % were positive for at least one NPS by liquid chromatography‒tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The most prevalent NPS was ketamine (29.4 %), followed by methylone (6.1 %) and N-ethylpentylone (4.1 %); however, MDMA was the most commonly identified (88.5 %) illicit psychoactive substance. More than one drug was identified in 79.9 % of samples, with two (34.2 %) and three (23.4 %) substances most commonly observed. Only 5 % of volunteers reported recent NPS consumption. CONCLUSION: MDMA is still the most common party and electronic music festival drug, although NPS were identified in more than one-third of oral fluid samples.

Centro de Convivência " É de Lei", e a redução de danos: 22 anos do "baque ao crack" / The Centro de Convivência "É de Lei" and harm reduction: 22 years of "from syringes to pipes"

O Centro de Convivência "É de Lei" é o primeiro espaço de convivência para pessoas que usam drogas no Brasil, esse artigo tem como objetivo contar a história dessa organização da sociedade civil desde sua fundação nos anos 90 até os dias de hoje. Apresenta-se os diversos projetos desenvolvidos ao longo de vinte e dois anos, além de discutir sobre as mudanças institucionais vivenciadas no decorrer dos anos. O "É de Lei" têm se dedicado a defesa dos direitos das/os usuárias/os de drogas, criado tecnologias relacionadas aos insumos para prevenção das IST/HIV, promoção em saúde e contribuído para a disseminação da Redução de Danos em diferentes frentes: trabalho de campo, ensino, pesquisa, advocacy e comunicação.

Reasons for not using ecstasy: a qualitative study of non-users, ex-light users and ex-moderate users.

BACKGROUND: Although ecstasy is often consumed in the electronic music scene, not everyone with the opportunity to use it chooses to do so. The objective of this study was to understand the reasons for non-use or the cessation of use, which could provide information for public health interventions. METHODS: A qualitative reference method was used. Our "snowball" sample group consisted of 53 people who were split into three subgroups: non-users (NU, n = 23), ex-light users (EX-L, n = 12) and ex-moderate users (EX-M, n = 18). Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and subjected to content analysis with the aid of NVivo8. RESULTS: Adverse health effects and personal values were given as reasons for non-use in the three groups. Non-users (NU) and ex-light users (EX-L) provided reasons that included fear of possible effects as well as moral, family and religious objections. Ex-moderate users (EX-M) cited reasons related to health complications and concomitant withdrawal from the electronic music scene. However, most of the ex-moderate users did not rule out the possibility of future use. CONCLUSIONS: Potential effects and undesirable consequences appear to guide the decisions within the different groups. Prevention might target these motivations. Individuals who have used ecstasy indicate that social and environmental factors are the most important factors.