title: Prevalence and risk factors of ecstasy use among college students in Astara, Islamic Republic of Iran.
abstract: We determined the prevalence and risk factors for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") use among college students in Astara, a northern border city of Iran. In a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1226 students, the lifetime prevalence of ecstasy use was 5.6%. The lifetime prevalence of use of other drugs, mostly cannabis and opium, was 4.6%. A fifth of students (21.8%) were current cigarette smokers and 24.8% had ever used alcohol. After logistic regression, the factors influencing ever use of ecstasy were ever use of other drugs, ever use of alcohol, current cigarette smoking and living alone or with friends. Targeted prevention programmes should be conducted in all colleges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran. mohtashamaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Z Mohtasham
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.forename: A Jafari
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shakib
authors.forename: A Khalili
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Moosavi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine