Aim: Communication and information sources can play an important role when addressing drug use. The aim of this study is to assess the association of different levels of trust in information sources regarding drug use within different population groups.
Methods: Data was gathered using a mixed methods approach, with an online survey and interviews. A structured questionnaire was designed for data collection using the methodology of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, with additional items measuring trust in the information sources.
Results: In total 9,161 inhabitants of Slovenia aged 15-64 years and living in the private households completed the survey as part of this non-experimental quantitative study (response rate: 57%). A total of 20.7% of the participants reported having used cannabis or hashish at least once in their lives, 2.5% cocaine/crack cocaine and 0.4% heroin. Mean age of the first cannabis/hashish use was 19.59 years, cocaine/crack cocaine 22.73 years and heroin 20.63 years. The participants most value and trust the information sources regarding tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs if it comes from healthcare workers or immediate family and other relatives, and put the least trust in the internet and television.
Conclusions: The data show that drug users have less trust in the given information sources compared to the whole sample. The present research serves as evidence for development and implementation of targeted interventions, including communication activities and tools.
Namen: Komunikacija in viri informacij lahko igrajo pomembno vlogo pri naslavljanju uporabe drog med prebivalci. Namen te študije je bil oceniti povezanost različnih stopenj zaupanja z viri informacij, navezujoč se na uporabo drog med različnimi populacijskimi skupinami.
Metode: Podatki so bili zbrani na podlagi uporabe različnih metod: spletne raziskave in intervjujev. Za zbiranje podatkov po metodologiji Evropskega centra za spremljanje drog in zasvojenosti z drogami je bil oblikovan strukturiran anketni vprašalnik z dodatnimi postavkami, ki merijo zaupanje v vire informacij.
Rezultati: Anketo je izpolnilo 9.161 v zasebnem gospodinjstvu živečih prebivalcev Slovenije, starih med 15 in 64 let. Šlo je za neeksperimentalno kvantitativno raziskavo (stopnja odziva: 57 %). 20,7 % sodelujočih v raziskavi je vsaj enkrat v življenju konzumiralo konopljo/hašiš, 2,5 % kokain/crack kokain in 0,4 % heroin. Povprečna starost ob prvem konzumiranju konoplje/hašiša je bila 19,59 let, kokaina/crack kokaina 22,73 let in heroina 20,63 let. Sodelujoči najbolj cenijo in zaupajo virom informacij glede tobaka, alkohola in prepovedanih drog, kadar te pridobijo od zdravstvenih delavcev, družine ali sorodnikov, najmanj pa zaupajo virom, pridobljenim na internetu ali televiziji.
Zaključki: Podatki kažejo, da uporabniki drog manj zaupajo virom informacij v primerjavi s celotnim vzorcem. Pričujoča raziskava služi kot dokaz za razvoj in izvajanje ciljno usmerjenih intervencij, vključno s komunikacijskimi aktivnostmi in orodji.
Keywords: Drug use; Information sources; Interviews; Online surveys; Trust.
© 2023 Branko Gabrovec et al., published by Sciendo.