Yang, Da PengDa PengYangTing, Te TienTe TienTingKuo, Yun NingYun NingKuoChen, Wei RuWei RuChenLiu, Hsin TungHsin TungLiuChiu, Jui YiJui YiChiuJair, Yung ChengYung ChengJairChen, Jung HsuanJung HsuanChenLin, Mei ChihMei ChihLinHsu, Ya HuiYa HuiHsuHUEI-WEN CHENPAI-SHAN CHEN2024-03-272024-03-272024-01-0115571874https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/641453The emergence of new synthetic substances (NPS) leads to rapid changes in substance prevalence. Here urine analysis and questionnaires were employed to construct a landscape of substance abuse. 3,064 urine samples were randomly selected from suspected substance abusers (N = 6,335) from 2014 to 2018 in Taiwan. Demographic information was self-reported. Principal component analysis (PCA) were used to explore the substance pattern. The positive detection of NPS reached 19.6%. The highest links of polysubstance use were the use of phenethylamines with the co-use of amphetamines (aOR = 4.33), benzodiazepines (aOR = 2.09), and synthetic cathinones (aOR = 5.01) and the use of synthetic cathinones with the co-use of ketamine (aOR = 6.72) and benzodiazepines (aOR = 2.62). No evidence indicating an increase in the use of NPS/other substances as a replacement for traditional substances. The presence of polysubstance patterns may be due to similarities in the effects of the various substances or users undergoing a transition in their substance abuse patterns.enDemographic factorsHigh risk populationNPSPolysubstance useUrinalysis[SDGs]SDG3journal article10.1007/s11469-023-01088-w2-s2.0-85160624608https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85160624608