Psychosocial profiles of older adolescent MDMA users.
OBJECTIVE
Using a case-control design, patterns of drug use, psychological symptoms, and behavioral characteristics associated with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA ) use were surveyed in a sample of older adolescents (median age 20).


METHODS
One hundred (42 MDMA users; 58 non-MDMA users) older adolescents were recruited using the "snowball" technique and interviewed regarding their use of MDMA and other drugs. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT), the HIV/sexually transmitted diseases (STD) risk scale, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were also administered.


RESULTS
MDMA users were more likely to use other substances, endorse more symptoms of psychological distress, and had more problems in functional lifestyle areas. They also reported more childhood experiences of physical abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect than non-MDMA users. MDMA users also reported more sexually risky behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Occasional MDMA use among older adolescents was associated with polydrug use, multiple social difficulties, psychological symptoms, and health risk behaviors. Further research is warranted to understand the long term psychosocial consequences of chronic MDMA and polydrug usage.
Singer
Lynn T
LT
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. lynn.singer@cwru.edu
Linares
Teresa J
TJ
Ntiri
Shana
S
Henry
Racquel
R
Minnes
Sonia
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine