Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users.
BACKGROUND
The recreational use of MDMA/Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is associated with many psychobiological problems, but there is a paucity of data on how these relate to the level of past use.


OBJECTIVE
to assess the incidence of Ecstasy-attributed problems as reported by novice, moderate and heavy users.


METHODS
763 unpaid volunteers took part in a WWW study of recreational drug use. This report is based on the 282 Ecstasy users from that sample, who comprised 109 novice users (1-9 occasions), 136 moderate users (10-99 occasions), and 36 heavy users (+100 occasions). Yes/no responses were automatically recorded to a series of questions covering psychobiological problems experienced when drug-free, which were attributed by the respondents to their Ecstasy use.


RESULTS
Depression, memory problems, anxiety, mood fluctuation, poor concentration, infections, tremors/twitches and weight loss, were all significantly associated with the extent of Ecstasy use. Thus memory problems attributed to Ecstasy were reported by 19% of novice users, 52% of heavy users and 73% of heavy users (chi-square 42.74, df=2, p<0.001); many of the other variables showed similar trends.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of problems attributed to Ecstasy use, is directly related to the number of occasions it has been used.
Parrott
A C
AC
Recreational Drugs Research Group, School of Psychology, University of East London, London E15 4LZ, UK. a.c.parrott@uel.ac.uk
Buchanan
T
T
Scholey
A B
AB
Heffernan
T
T
Ling
J
J
Rodgers
J
J
D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020407:Internet; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine