Mind the G(ap): bridging prevention needs and approaches for GHB/GBL users and their social environment.

IF 4 2区社会学 Q1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Harm Reduction Journal Pub Date : 2025-01-10 DOI:10.1186/s12954-025-01152-9

Antonia Bendau, Lukas Roediger, Andrea Piest, Rüdiger Schmolke, Katharin Ahrend, Moritz Bruno Petzold, Twyla Michnevich, Felix Betzler

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BD) have become a significant concern due to the increase in their recreational use and the high risks associated with it (e.g., overdose, addiction, life-threatening withdrawal syndromes). However, targeted prevention and treatment strategies are lacking, and little is known about the specific needs of users regarding supportive approaches.

Methods: To address this gap, a mixed-methods longitudinal study was conducted with two waves of online data collection (11/2022-01/2023; 11/2023-01/2024) in Germany. The adult convenience sample (N = 2,196, with n = 240 participating in the follow-up) was mostly connected to Berlin's nightlife scene and included GHB/GBL/BD users and their (non-user) social environment. Perceptions and needs regarding prevention and harm-reduction, reasons and measures of decreasing use, and the impact of GHB/GBL/BD use were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results: Education, harm reduction strategies, and specialized support options were welcomed by users and non-users, while restrictive approaches were viewed negatively, particularly by heavy users. Many participants expressed a desire to reduce GHB/GBL/BD use, driven primarily by health concerns, immediate use risks, and addiction, but only few participants had previously accessed preventive/therapeutic services. The follow-up showed little change in perceptions and experiences over time.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for comprehensive and integrative prevention and treatment strategies for GHB/GBL/BD use, with harm reduction approaches prioritized over restrictions. They provide a crucial foundation for future research and interventions and emphasize the necessity of adequately addressing the growing issues related to GHB/GBL/BD use.

Trial registration: The study protocol was pre-registered with the German registry for clinical studies (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00030608) on October 28, 2022.

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注意G(ap)：连接GHB/GBL使用者及其社会环境的预防需求和方法。

背景：γ -羟基丁酸酯（GHB）及其前体γ -丁内酯（GBL）和1,4-丁二醇（BD）由于其娱乐性使用的增加以及与之相关的高风险（例如过量，成瘾，危及生命的戒断综合征）已成为一个值得关注的问题。然而，缺乏有针对性的预防和治疗战略，而且对使用者在支持性方法方面的具体需求知之甚少。方法：为了解决这一空白，进行了一项混合方法的纵向研究，进行了两波在线数据收集(11/2022-01/2023；2023年11月至2024年1月)。成人便利样本（N = 2196，参与随访的N = 240）大多与柏林的夜生活场景有关，包括GHB/GBL/BD用户及其（非用户）社交环境。对预防和减少危害、减少使用的原因和措施以及GHB/GBL/BD使用的影响进行了定量和定性分析。结果：用户和非用户都欢迎教育、减少伤害战略和专门支持方案，而限制性方法则被视为负面的，特别是重度用户。许多与会者表示希望减少GHB/GBL/BD的使用，主要是出于健康考虑、立即使用风险和成瘾，但只有少数与会者以前获得过预防/治疗服务。随访显示，随着时间的推移，认知和经历几乎没有变化。结论：研究结果强调了GHB/GBL/BD使用需要全面和综合的预防和治疗策略，减少危害的方法优先于限制。它们为未来的研究和干预提供了重要的基础，并强调了充分解决与GHB/GBL/BD使用相关的日益增长的问题的必要性。试验注册：研究方案在德国临床研究注册中心(Deutsches Register Klinischer studen；drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00030608)于2022年10月28日发布。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Harm Reduction Journal Medicine-Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

9.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

26 weeks

期刊介绍： Harm Reduction Journal is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal whose focus is on the prevalent patterns of psychoactive drug use, the public policies meant to control them, and the search for effective methods of reducing the adverse medical, public health, and social consequences associated with both drugs and drug policies. We define "harm reduction" as "policies and programs which aim to reduce the health, social, and economic costs of legal and illegal psychoactive drug use without necessarily reducing drug consumption". We are especially interested in studies of the evolving patterns of drug use around the world, their implications for the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne pathogens.