Table 6 Reasons for first, subsequent use and no use of SCRAs with most important reason for each highlighted and italicised
| First SCRA use (n = 82) |
Reasons for SCRA use n, % |
Most important reason n, % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curiosity to compare effects to cannabis | 63 | 77% | 18 | 22% |
| Offered by others/available | 51 | 62% | 15 | 18% |
| Heard reports from other sources | 50 | 61% | 7 | 9% |
| Offered an alternative to cannabis | 42 | 51% | 13 | 16% |
| Legal status | 42 | 51% | 10 | 12% |
| Easier to obtain than cannabis | 31 | 38% | 4 | 5% |
| Subject to drug testing | 20 | 24% | 7 | 9% |
| To reduce or cease cannabis use | 15 | 18% | 6 | 7% |
| Produced desirable recreational effects | 14 | 17% | - | - |
| Less expensive than cannabis | 10 | 12% | 1 | 1% |
| Stronger than cannabis | 10 | 12% | 1 | 1% |
| Produced positive therapeutic/medicinal effects | 7 | 9% | - | - |
| Milder than cannabis | 4 | 5% | - | - |
| Subsequent SCRA use (n = 72) | ||||
| Offered an alternative to cannabis | 37 | 51% | 7 | 10% |
| Easier to obtain than cannabis | 34 | 47% | 7 | 10% |
| Stronger than cannabis | 33 | 44% | 13 | 18% |
| Legal status | 31 | 43% | 7 | 10% |
| Offered by others/available | 31 | 43% | 9 | 13% |
| Produced desirable recreational effects | 22 | 31% | 6 | 8% |
| Subject to drug testing | 20 | 28% | 9 | 13% |
| Curiosity to compare effects to cannabis | 19 | 26% | 9 | 13% |
| Produced positive therapeutic/medicinal effects | 10 | 14% | - | - |
| Less expensive than cannabis | 9 | 13% | 3 | 4% |
| To reduce or cease cannabis use | 8 | 11% | 2 | 3% |
| Heard reports from other sources | 8 | 11% | - | - |
| Milder than cannabis | 5 | 7% | - | - |
| No SCRA use (n = 72) | ||||
| Heard bad/negative reports | 62 | 86% | 37 | 51% |
| Not a natural product | 50 | 69% | 17 | 24% |
| No curiosity to try SCRAs | 40 | 56% | 5 | 7% |
| Undesired recreational effects | 38 | 53% | 7 | 10% |
| Distrust of SCRA manufacturers | 20 | 28% | 2 | 3% |
| Never offered or available | 14 | 19% | 4 | 6% |
| Negative/harmful effect profile | 14 | 19% | - | - |
| Distrust of SCRA retailers | 11 | 15% | - | - |
| Illegal status | 9 | 13% | - | - |
| More difficult to obtain | 8 | 11% | - | - |
| Stronger than cannabis | 5 | 7% | - | - |
| Subject to drug testing | 3 | 4% | - | - |
| More expensive | 2 | 3% | - | - |
| Milder than cannabis | 2 | 3% | - | - |