Bruguera Pol, Reynolds Jillian, Gilvarry Eilish, Braddick Fleur, Marath-Veettil Abdul Latheef, Anderson Peter, Mielecka-Kubien Zofia, Kaner Eileen, Gual Antoni
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic i Provincial de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,
J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2018 Mar 1;21(1):11-16.
The relationship between economic downturns and substance use has been studied in numerous economic crises occurring worldwide, but the precise relationship between the two remains unclear.
The aim of the present study was to undertake a survey on behaviour and perspectives related to the latest European economic crisis among illegal drug users attending substance treatment services.
We conducted a questionnaire-based survey in drug dependence treatment settings, in three geographically different jurisdictions (England, Catalonia and Poland), including 180 drug users.
Most of the participants of the survey (58.3%) reported an increase in drug use during the crisis, compared with only 25.6% of the sample who reported a decrease in drug use. The main reason given for increasing drug use was greater amount of free time available. Other important reasons were greater substance availability during this period, more stress at work and seeking comfort in response to the loss of a stable source of income, social status and/or family. Those who reported cutting down on the amount of drug use during the economic recession, reported economic difficulties as the main reason. Other important factors were family and friends' economic problems and the fear of losing their job. Illegal drug use reduction was compensated by increased smoking in 46.3% of the patients, and increased alcohol use in 39.4%.
While this result has potential interest for those developing policies and interventions to reduce drug-related harm, longitudinal studies and future research involving a broader population of drug-users (including those not in treatment) could shed further light on these behavioural mechanisms linking changes in drug use with economic recessions.
经济衰退与物质使用之间的关系已在全球发生的众多经济危机中得到研究，但两者的确切关系仍不明确。
本研究的目的是对接受物质治疗服务的非法药物使用者中与最新欧洲经济危机相关的行为和观点进行调查。
我们在三个地理位置不同的司法管辖区（英格兰、加泰罗尼亚和波兰）的药物依赖治疗机构中进行了一项基于问卷的调查，共有180名药物使用者参与。
调查的大多数参与者（58.3%）报告在危机期间药物使用增加，相比之下，只有25.6%的样本报告药物使用减少。药物使用增加的主要原因是有更多的空闲时间。其他重要原因包括在此期间物质供应更充足、工作压力更大以及为应对稳定收入来源、社会地位和/或家庭的丧失而寻求安慰。那些报告在经济衰退期间减少药物使用量的人，将经济困难作为主要原因。其他重要因素包括家人和朋友的经济问题以及对失去工作的恐惧。46.3%的患者通过增加吸烟来弥补非法药物使用的减少，39.4%的患者通过增加饮酒来弥补。
虽然这一结果对于那些制定减少与药物相关危害的政策和干预措施的人可能具有潜在意义，但纵向研究以及涉及更广泛药物使用者群体（包括未接受治疗者）的未来研究，可能会进一步揭示这些将药物使用变化与经济衰退联系起来的行为机制。
