Pavarin RM, Risks, substances and consumers. Studies and surveys in the metropolitan area of Bologna, Universitas Studiorum, 2015

Thispublication reports the results of some studies and surveys carried out in themetropolitan area of Bologna. Overall, the aspects emerging from the variousstudies contribute to a homogenous interpretation of the phenomenon: market,medicalisation, risks, socially integrated drug users, poor drug addicts.

Market - Substances use is decreasing, butthe quality/price ratio is worsening; Cannabis is having a high diffusion withsimilar addiction models to those of tobacco.

Medicalisation –Many subjects use psychoactive substances in order to reduce or compensate somephysical or psychic symptoms within a more or less aware self-medicationprocess.

Risks –Themain problem related to illegal substances consumption is the limited knowledgeof consumers about product’s composition.

Sociallyintegrated drug users - The drug consumption seems to be transversal tocultural, economic, gender and generational differences.

Poor drug addicts – Differently from the marginal subjects, who partly choose their peculiarlife-style, drug-addiction service users or ex-users are mainly affected by theeconomic consequences of a drug addiction they can no longer afford.