An epidemiological survey to determine the scale and serious public health risk of designer drug (DD) abuse in Polish schoolchildren and students

Since 2008 it is recognised by most health authorities worldwide that abuse of newly emerging psychoactive drugs, (‘designer drugs'/‘legal highs'), in youth is a problem rapidly increasing especially in the EU, threatening to offset gains made in tackling established and illegal drugs which they are intended to mimic; DD diversity continually increasing to circumvent laws. This was particularly acute in Poland with hundreds of hospitalisations resulting in Oct 2010 alone bringing about drastic enforcement action following scientific assessment and changes to the national law for the situation to be controlled. A major randomised survey of 10,083 school pupils and 4,428 students was therefore performed (March-April 2011), to determine the scale of DD abuse/availability amongst Polish youth. Few persons from each group admitted using DDs; 453 schoolpupils (4.49%) vs 81 students (1.83%). More males (4.74%) took DDs than females (2.77%). The tendency to take DDs in friend's company was high in both DD taking groups (>80%). First time users within 1-2 years ago constituted the highest group. DDs were consumed mostly in open spaces (34.15%), discos/pubs (21.13%) and boarding school/friends house (20.57). Most frequently DDs came from shops (57.68%), friends (31.46%) or dealers (10.67%). Ensuing symptoms included; happy/euphoric mood (58.8%), talkativeness (42.51%) and hallucinations (22.85%). Over 73% of DD takers in both groups experienced adverse reactions and those requiring help sought; friends/colleagues (6.74%), doctors (5.06%), hospitals (4.87%) but most rarely parents/guardians (2.62%). Urgent action is being taken, especially youth education, to prevent DDs becoming the serious menace seen with conventional drugs.