Searching the Internet for drug-related web sites: analysis of online available information on ecstasy (MDMA).
Although the Internet is a growing source of information on MDMA/ecstasy, no studies so far have investigated the level and quality of ecstasy information available to the typical Web user. In the present study, 280 Web sites were identified and analyzed; 50.4% had an anti-drug approach, 16.2% a harm reduction approach, and 24.8% a pro-drug approach. MDMA pro-drug Web sites appeared significantly earlier in the search engines' results list than both anti-drug and harm reduction Web sites (F (3; 159) = 3.288; p = .022). This study represents the first systematic analysis of information available online on ecstasy. Implications for further research are discussed.
Deluca
Paolo
P
Section of Addictive Behaviour, Division of Mental Health, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom. pdeluca@sgul.ac.uk
Schifano
Fabrizio
F
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D009862:Online Systems / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine