Motywy zażywania i typologia użytkowników nowych substancji psychoaktywnych na podstawie badania sondażowego i analizy forów internetowych w ramach projektu I-TREND

Introduction The new psychoactive substance (NPS) scene attracts people with various needs and motives. NPS, so-called designer drugs, for many seem to be the answer to what contemporary reality brings. The aim of the article is to present a typology of users and to present their views on the NPS. Methods The study used a mixed method using qualitative and quantitative approach. A survey with 1385 users of NPS was conducted online and the analysis of the two largest Polish internet forums: “hyperreal.info” and “dopalamy.com” was done. Within the qualitative analysis carried out according to the principles of grounded theory over 1000 posts were analysed relating to ten most popular NPS from three different groups: stimulants (mostly synthetic cathinones), psychedelics and synthetic cannabinoids. Results The study showed that the motives, context of use, style of language as well as expected effects of NPS are differentiating factors among users. Basing on these factors, in the process of qualitative analysis of Internet forums six different types of users were distinguished: 1) experts and scientists, 2) experimenters, 3) kamikaze, 4) newcomers, 5) supermen and 6) empathic party goers. Within each of the groups of NPS (stimulants, psychedelics, synthetic cannabinoids) the users of different types are dominant.