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3. ASSESSING THE EXPERIENCE OF USING SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS... m 49 process emerged, where first the drug gave new friends, but later it gradually took it away, because it strengthened participants’ egoism and disinterest in social connections. They retreated from their social world, hid in their room, and pre-ferred to use SCs alone. »l started to use the drug with my friends, then I became completely asocial. So, I bought my bio-weed and I smoked it at home at night.” (Zsolt) »When I smoked the bio-weed, I plunged in my ear-phone and the whole world switched off, and there was only me. During those times I did not like talking to anyone.” (Ricsi) »When I smoked I was wallowing in self-pity, I felt sorry for myself, I was alone, I didn't care about anybody else, I hated everyone.” (Jerob) Interpersonal context: the drug becomes a friend or a partner Participants perceived the drug as a friend or a partner, which - even though it made them turn inward - could help overcome loneliness. “T was so lonely,... bio’ was my friend, because it was always there, when nobody else was, it always made it pos-sible to be there for me? (Jerob) In later stages of participants drug use carrier, SCs become the most important thing and the only thing that they perceive. Participants withdraw from their social world and everyday life, and all their thoughts and activities focus on SC consumption. „You become unconcerned about your things, for example your clothing, your hair, and etc. you don’t care about these things, only to have the drug. When I woke up I smoked, if I had it. If I didn’t have the drug, I roamed until I got some.” (Attila) On the other hand, SCs become an elementary need, a basic part of life, without which withdrawal symptoms appear: “When I had no money or possibility to get some, it felt like I was going to die without it. It was to me like food or water for normal people.” (Zsolt)
