Dinosaur girls, candy girls, and Trinity: voices of Taiwanese club drug users.
Research among Asian users of methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), also known as Ecstasy, is rare. To evaluate the feasibility of a study on the abuse of and dependence on Ecstasy, two focus groups of users (n= 12) and health professionals (n=7) were conducted in Taiwan. Major results included blatant human testing with "candy and dinosaur girls" and a specific sequence of drugs called a "Trinity" (Ecstasy, ketamine, and marijuana). "Head-shaked bars" and "KTVs" were public places where illegal behaviors were implicitly allowed. Depression after Ecstasy use was not reported. For future studies, participants suggested that magnetic resonance imaging could be a strong incentive for young users to enhance willingness to participate. Cultural issues of Ecstasy use are also discussed.
Leung
Kit-Sang
KS
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 40N Kingshighway, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. leungks@epi.wustl.edu
Li
Jih-Heng
JH
Tsay
Wen-Ing
WI
Callahan
Catina
C
Liu
Shu-Fen
SF
Hsu
Jui
J
Hoffer
Lee
L
Cottler
Linda B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007649:Ketamine; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000208:ethnology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007649:Ketamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine