Aim: To identify the risk factors for the use of ethnobotanicals and the people at risk to becoming users.
Material and methods: This questionnaire basez objective population study included 89 subjects aged 14 to 42 years.
Results: 19.10% of the subjects admitted using ethnobotanicals, most of them being 20-25 years old (35.29%), males (82.35%), with an average educational level, and unmarried. It should be noted that 23.52% of the users were underage. 85.15% of the subjects first used ehnobotanicals out of curiosity, 29,41% under the influence of friends (94.11% of them having friends that use these products). 11.76% of the respondents stated that they did not know what they used, the product being offered to them by friends as a cigarette or candy. Favorite places for consumption were: at home (64.70%), parks and public areas (23.52%), coffee shops and night clubs (11.76%). Cigarette was the preferred method of use (70.58%), followed by joint (23.52%) and "salt bath" (5.88%). The described effects were: hallucinogen (35.29%), aphrodisiac (29.41%) and relaxing (23.52%). To strengthen these effects, most users associated alcohol and tabacco (70.58%), or other illegal drugs (7.14%). According to this study all users were familiar with the risks associated with the use of these products, but only 64.70% agree with closing the weed-shops.
Conclusions: The obtained data are of help in initiating prevention and rehabilitation programs in school and colleges.