Estimating the Prevalence of Ecstasy Use Among Juvenile Offenders

Yacoubian, George S.; Arria, Amelia M.; Fost, Elisabeth; Wish, Eric D.

doi:10.1080/02791072.2002.10399955

Cited by 36 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Arria et al (2000) reported that ecstasy users recruited from rave settings were more likely to report past experiences with marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs than their nonecstasy using counterparts. Yacoubian et al (2002) and Wish et al (under review) report similar findings in a sample of juvenile offenders and college students, respectively. Although it is apparent that ecstasy users are likely to engage in polysubstance use, little is known about whether these other illicit substances are used before, during, and/or after ecstasy use.…”

Section: Ecstasy and Polysubstance Usesupporting

confidence: 63%

An In-Depth Qualitative Examination of the Ecstasy Experience: Results of a Focus Group with Ecstasy-Using College Students

Levy

O’Grady

Wish

et al. 2005

Substance Use & Misuse

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This study examined ecstasy use in 30 college students who participated in one of four 60-minute focus groups with other participants who also had a history of ecstasy use. Ten topics emerged in the sessions: 1) pill ingredients, 2) mechanism of MDMA effects, 3) reasons for initiating ecstasy use, 4) risky behaviors and ecstasy use, 5) sexual activity and ecstasy, 6) positive effects from ecstasy use, 7) negative effects related to ecstasy use, 8) ecstasy and polysubstance use, 9) perceived risks of ecstasy use, and 10) motivational factors related to quitting ecstasy use. Most participants had a basic understanding of the contents of ecstasy pills, and the effects that ecstasy has on the brain and bodily functions. Participants reported positive effects on mood, social pressure, curiosity, availability, boredom, desire for an altered state of mind, desire to escape, self-medication, desire to have fun, and the ease of use of ecstasy in comparison to other drugs as reasons for initiating ecstasy use. They were divided regarding whether ecstasy increased the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, including risky sexual behavior. Participants described their experiences of both the positive and negative effects (physical and psychological) that they attributed to their use of ecstasy. All participants were polysubstance users, consuming a number of other substances simultaneously and concurrently with ecstasy. The majority was unaware of specific types of problems ecstasy could potentially cause and discounted its potential harm. Participants varied in their motivation for quitting ecstasy use, including negative personal experiences while using ecstasy, health concerns, and addiction/tolerance. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed. Keywordsecstasy; X; club drugs; raves; college students Substance abuse a among young adults continues to be an area of concern for public health research, as well as among medical and mental health professionals. During the past 10 years, the use of club drugs-a class of synthetic compounds that have various stimulant and hallucinogenic properties-has become more prominent among the spectrum of drugs used by youth and young adults in the United States (Rivas-Vazquez and Delgado, 2002 Club drugs, such as ketamine hydrochloride (a derivative of phencyclidine hydrochloride or PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy"), are the major club drugs used by young adults to enhance social experiences. The aim of the present study was to conduct an in-depth examination of six important and inadequately understood topic areas relating to ecstasy use in college students, a group that appears to be at high risk for club drug use. In addition to providing useful information in regard to these six topic areas, it was anticipated that data gathered from the focus groups would provide guidance in generating specific hypotheses that could be tested in larger samples using quantitative meth...

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Section: Ecstasy and Polysubstance Usesupporting

confidence: 63%

An In-Depth Qualitative Examination of the Ecstasy Experience: Results of a Focus Group with Ecstasy-Using College Students

Levy

O’Grady

Wish

et al. 2005

Substance Use & Misuse

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“…found that female users of stimulants (e.g., amphetamine and methamphetamine) were about 3 times as likely as male users to develop stimulant dependence in the past year. Among a sample of juvenile offenders, females were found to be more likely than males to use MDMA (Yacoubian et al, 2002). Investigators in Germany reported that, among a community sample of youths aged 14 to 24, female users of stimulants and/or hallucinogens started their first use at a younger age than male users (von Sydow et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concurrent use of methamphetamine, MDMA, LSD, ketamine, GHB, and flunitrazepam among American youths

Schlenger

Galvin

2006

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

144

116

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Background-The magnitude and the characteristics of the use of methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), ketamine, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), and flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) were examined in a probability sample of the U.S. civilian population that included multiethnic urban, suburban, and rural youths aged 16 to 23 (N = 19,084).Methods-Data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics associated with the use of each of these drugs and of multiple drugs.Results-Approximately 20% of youths aged 16 to 23 reported having ever used one or more of these drugs. Less than 1% of club drug users used club drugs only, and 82% of them had ever used three or more drug classes. Females were more likely than males to report using multiple club drugs. Recent users of methamphetamine were most likely to be females and adolescents aged 16 or 17. Recent users of MDMA tended to be young adults aged 18 to 21 and residents of metropolitan areas. Most recent users of LSD were adolescents aged 16 to 19 and those in low-income families. Ketamine users were primarily employed youths. Staying in school and getting married were associated with decreased odds of club drug use. Club drug use was highly associated with the presence of criminal behaviors and recent alcohol abuse or dependence.Conclusions-Adolescents are more likely than young adults to use multiple drugs. The clustering of multidrug use and alcohol use disorder is a cause of concern.

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“…Ecstasy has drawn a moderate amount of scientific attention, with most of the available research focused on the psychopharmacology of the drug. Few studies have directly examined possible links between ecstasy and crime or systematically compared the prevalence of ecstasy in offender and general populations (Yacoubian, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%