Patterns and harms of pharmaceutical drug use among ecstasy users in Australia.
BACKGROUND
There has been a significant incursion of prescription drugs in to the club scene worldwide. The concomitant use of ecstasy and pharmaceutical drugs is associated with potentially serious health-related harms. This has ramifications for people who deliberately combine pharmaceutical drugs with ecstasy to achieve a specific effect and for people legitimately using pharmaceutical drugs for a health condition who may incidentally use ecstasy. This exploratory study had the broad aim to investigate the patterns and harms of concomitant use of pharmaceutical drugs and ecstasy, and to explore participants' experiences when visiting a General Practitioner (GP).


METHODS
In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 ecstasy/pharmaceutical drug users.


RESULTS
Users reported deliberately combining stimulants (dexamphetamine, methylphenidate (e.g. Ritalin), antidepressants and sildenafil (e.g. Viagra) for non-medical purposes with ecstasy. A wide range of effects were reported. Several clear relationships emerged between the use of pharmaceutical drugs and ecstasy, and the distinctions between these in terms of motivations for use and consequences are discussed. The attitudes of GPs were professional and non-judgemental and there was little reluctance among participants to disclose illicit drug use. Screening for illicit drug use was limited.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings have important implications for clubbers in regard to harm reduction strategies and highlight a number of areas for future research.
Silins
Edmund
E
Centro Nacional para la Investigación sobre el Alcohol y las Drogas, Universidad de Nueva Gales del Sur, Sidney, Australia. e.silins@unsw.edu.au
Copeland
Jan
J
Dillon
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine