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.
Section of Addictive Behaviour, Division of Mental Health, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom. pdeluca@sgul.ac.uk
Paolo
P
Deluca
Fabrizio
F
Schifano
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