title: Prospective associations between meth/amphetamine (speed) and MDMA (ecstasy) use and depressive symptoms in secondary school students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has raised significant concern regarding the affective consequences of synthetic drug use. However, little evidence from well-controlled longitudinal studies exists on these consequences. The aim of this study was to determine whether use of meth/amphetamine (speed) and ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is independently predictive of subsequent depressive symptoms in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 3880 adolescents from secondary schools in disadvantaged areas of Quebec, Canada, were followed over time (2003-2008). Logistic regression was used to test the association between meth/amphetamine and MDMA use in grade 10 (ages 15-16 years) and elevated depressive symptoms on an abridged Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale in grade 11, controlling for pre-existing individual and contextual characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment, both MDMA use (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6) and meth/amphetamine use (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3) in grade 10 significantly increased the odds of elevated depressive symptoms in grade 11. These relationships did not vary by gender or pre-existing depressive symptoms. Increased risk was particularly observed in concurrent usage (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent use of meth/amphetamine and MDMA (particularly concurrent use) is independently associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Further enquiry must determine whether these associations reflect drug-induced neurotoxicity and whether adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to the hazards of synthetic drug exposure.
authors.affiliation: Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. frederic.nault-briere@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Frédéric N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Brière
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fallu
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janosz
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pagani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008694:Methamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine