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Author(s): Mehmet Çakici [sup.1] , Gizem Yesil Dirisu [sup.1] , Meryem Karaaziz [sup.1] , Ayse Buran [sup.1] , Ebru Çakici [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Arts and Science Faculty, Department of [...], This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, risk factors and relation to the acculturation of psychoactive substance abuse in adults living in North Cyprus (NC). Method: Data was collected from 1064 people who were living in NC using multiple stepped stratified random sampling method between April-May 2018. Socio-demographic information form, Model Europe Survey and Acculturation Attitudes Scale were used as study instruments. 2018 data were compared with 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2017 studies in which the same survey and method were used. Results: Five hundred and forty five participants were male and 519 female. Also, 33.6% of the participants were between the ages of 18-29, 58% of participants were born in Cyprus, 38.2% were university graduate or above and 48.2% of the participants were living with their spouses. According to the study, the prevalence of cigarette usage at least once in a lifetime was 64.9%, alcohol 74.5%, other psychoactive substance (OPS) 11.4% and illicit substance (IS) 9.0%. Being under 25 years of age, Turkey-born, not religious, using alcohol and cigarettes and experiencing drunkenness constituted the risk factors of IS users. Marginalization scores were lower both for drug users born in Turkey and NC. Discussion: It was observed that both OPS and IS usage have increased in the last 15 years. Cannabis, synthetic cannabinoid and ecstasy are more widely used. It was also observed that OPS is more used among those who cannot create a marginal response to acculturation stress. In prevention programs and treatments, sociocultural characteristics should be considered.

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry / Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi is the property of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: In this study, the prevalence of gambling behaviors among the TRNC in 2014 is compared with the data of 2007, 2012 and the relationship between acculturation and problem and pathological gambling is examined. Methods: The population of the study consists individuals 18-65 years of age living in TRNC. Nine hundred and fifty-eight people were consequently selected according to gender, age and geographical region with a multi-stage stratified quota. Data was collected in May and June 2014. For the collection of the data, a demographic questionnaire, the Turkish version of the Revised South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Turkish version of Culture Attitude Scale (CAS) were used. The prevalence data were compared with the research done by the same researchers in 2007 (n=1012) and 2012 (n=996), which were conducted by same method and questionnaire. Results: According to SOGS scores, the rate of gambling addiction (SOGS≥8) in the TRNC was 2.2% in 2007 and 3.5% in 2012 and rose to 3.8% in the present study. Moreover the rate of problem gambling (SOGS=3-7) was 9.2% in 2007, 9.7% in 2012 and in the present study 9.5%. When the risk factors for gambling behavior are examined, to be a male, to be in the age range of 18-29, to be single, to live alone, and to marry less than 5 years are found as the risk factors for gambling. Conclusion: The study shows that gambling behavior is widespread in the TRNC and gambling addiction is increasingly rapidly. High rates of gambling addiction, should be assessed in its own social structure for each community as in the TRNC and it should be taken into consideration that acculturation is an effective factor in increasing gambling dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry / Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi is the property of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: This study is a follow-up study of the study, which was conducted in 1999. In the light of the recent results, this study's aim is to investigate prevalence of psychoactive substance use; such as cigarettes, alcohol and others, and to see the change in ratios compared to previous years. Methods: This study was conducted in March 2015, with 1487 secondary school students from state schools and private schools in TRNC. A questionnaire form consisted of questions about sociodemographic characteristics, use of tobacco, alcohol and other psychoactive substances was administered to the students. The questionnaire of the study was based on questions from the European Schools Research Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, similar with recent school-based studies in TRNC. Results: Results showed that, the percentage of smoking at least once was 8.9%, alcohol use percentage was 36.3%, use of other psychoactive drugs (OPD) was 5.5% and the use of illegal substances was 3.9%. When the results compared with 1999 study, it has seen that illegal substance use was increased. Most commonly reason of using OPD were entertainment, curiosity and irritability. It was seen that first OPD use was decreased to the age of 11 and below. Smoking, alcohol use and being drunk were the risk factors for becoming probably users of illegal drugs. Conclusion: Research findings indicated that there is an increase in the use of different kinds of psychoactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry / Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi is the property of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study is a follow-up study of the study which was conducted in 1999. In the light of the recent results, this study's aim is to investigate prevalence of psychoactive substance use; such as cigarettes, alcohol and others, and to see the change in ratios compared to previous years. This study was conducted in March 2015, with 1487 secondary school students from state schools and private schools in TRNC. A questionnaire form consisted of questions about socio-demographic characteristics, use of cigarettes, alcohol and other psychoactive substances was administered to the students. Results showed that, the percentage of smoking at least once was 8.9%, alcohol use percentage was 36.3%, use of other psychoactive drugs (OPD) was 5.5% and the use of illegal substances was 3.9%. Research findings indicated that there is an increase in the use of different kinds of psychoactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The age of using psychoactive drug has decreased in recent years while it has threatened children. This study considers types of psychoactive drugs used, risk factors and causal attributions among primary school 5th grade students in TRNC. Methods: The study was conducted with 2345 students during May and June 2015 in 75 public primary schools and two private primary schools that are dependent to Ministry of Education and Culture in TRNC. In this study, USA Department of Education 'California Healthy Kids Survey' was used by adapting to Turkish. Results: The study found the lifetime prevalence of cigarette use 10.9%, alcohol use 23.5% and illicit drug use 1.2%. Half of the students (51.3%) reported they have known name of an illicit drug other than cigarette and alcohol. The most known illicit drug is 'bonsai' (5.3%) among students. Living in a city, having brother/sister, having separate parents and being exposed to bad behaviour are predictive risk factors for using cigarette and alcohol. On the other hand, being male, being exposed to bad behaviour and physical violence are predictive risk factors for using illicit drugs. Conclusions: This study shows that the age of using psychoactive drug has decreased in TRNC and it even exists among primary school students like all over the world. This study proves that prevention studies for psychoactive drug use for children needs to be put into practice as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry / Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi is the property of Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: As the age starting using drugs decrease and drug use among young people increase, the prevention programs start to focus on young people who has become most important risk group. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics and risk factors for cigarette, alcohol and other psychoactive drug (OPD) use among university students in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Methods: A survey was administered to 1323 university students randomly chosen. The questionaire was designed to obtain data about socio-demographic characteristics of the students, the frequency of their cigarette-alcohol and OPD use and beliefs and attitudes of the students about substance use. Results: 398 (30.3%) of the students were from TRNC, 824 (62.7%) from Turkey and 92 (7.0%) from other countries. The life-time use of cigarette was 69.5% and boys smoked more than girls. Students from Turkey smoked cigarette significantly more often. Life-time use of any alcoholic beverages was 81.0% and the students from TRNC used alcohol significantly more than others. Life-time use of any illicit drug was 10.9% and the ratio was higher for boys. Life-time use of cigarette and life-time use of OPD and gender (being male) were found to be positively associated with the tendency to use illicit drugs. Conclusion: Repeating prevalence studies for substance use among university students at certain intervals will be helpful to follow the changes of substance use rates and determine the substances mostly preferred so that prevention programs can be planned more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research (EJER) is the property of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research (EJER) is the property of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)