New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in Uzbekistan: Motives and Psychosocial Needs among Youth

The emergence and popularity of NPS, such as mephedrone, and alpha-pvp, among young people in Uzbekistan are growing due to their availability through Internet platforms and interest in new trendy substances among peers, as well as the desire to have fun and get high. There is no reliable information about the number of users, their motivation to use NPS, as well as the psychological and social assistance they need. To investigate the motives of NPS use in the youth population of Uzbekistan and trace their psychological needs in the rehabilitation process. A series of semi-structured interviews were carried out among 25 young people with NPS addictions. 76% of users were male, while the average age was 27. The average age of drug onset was 18, while for NPS it was 22. Most users (65%) seem to start their drug careers with non-prescribed medication: Lyrica, tropicamide, regapen or marijuana, and then level up to NPS like mephedrone, alpha-pvp, and other synthetic stimulants. The use of synthetic cathinone was dominant (65%) among interviewed respondents. Half of them reported that they started using NPS in a social setting with friends. Primary reasons and motivations included: pleasure, socialization, euphoria, escaping reality, blocking of feelings, different mental states, and sexual enhancement. Of the 25 NPS users interviewed, 24 (98%) were aware of the harm caused by NPS use. 88% of users seem to be trying to cut down on the use of NPS. All of them have reported that NPS use has negatively impacted their lives including their relationships with their friends and relatives. 53% were willing to help other NPS users as they considered that only people with NPS experience could provide peer-to-peer interventions in rehabilitation programs. These preliminary results warrant development and capacity building in rehabilitation technologies for people involved in NPS use considering the challenges and facets of the Uzbekistan treatment system.