title: [The current aspects of the use of ecstasy/MDMA in France].
abstract: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the active compound of ecstasy, has been used for several years, especially by young adults to benefit of psychostimulant properties. By raising the level of neuromodulators in the synapsis, MDMA can cause psychiatric and physical injuries. After reduced supplies in 2009 (number of ecstasy seizures equal to 10 percent of those recorded in 2002), judicial authorities now observed an increased availability (a half more part of seizures in 2012 than 2010). From its "Spontaneous Notifications" data base and "deaths in connection with the abuse of medicine and substances (DRAMES)", "observation of illegal drugs and misuse of psychotropic medications" (OPPIDUM), and "observation of drug dependencies in ambulatory medicine" (OPEMA) national inquiries, the French Addictovigilance network (CEIP-A) highlighted the increasing consumption of MDMA. The way of use appeared quite unchanged: users were mainly young men between 25 and 30 years; they favored an occasional use but mainly combined other products such as alcohol, cannabis and other stimulants. Severity of the clinical cases, based on hospital care and forensic data, could be consistent with the higher amounts of MDMA measured in pills.
authors.affiliation: Service de pharmacologie clinique et pharmacovigilance, centre d'addictovigilance PACA-Corse, CHU, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spadari
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Paris, hôpital Fernand-Vidal, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batisse
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Nantes, institut de biologie, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Marylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerlais
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Lyon, CHU, 69424 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Bordeaux, CHU, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daveluy
authors.affiliation: Service de pharmacologie, centre d'addictovigilance de Caen, CHU Côte de Nacre, 14033 Caen cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Reynald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Le Boisselier
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Nancy, hôpital Central, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gibaja
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Montpellier, hôpital Lapeyronie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eiden
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Grenoble, CHU, 38043 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepelley
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Toulouse, faculté de médecine, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roussin
authors.affiliation: Centre d'addictovigilance de Lille, faculté de médecine, 59045 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deheul
authors.affiliation: Service de pharmacologie clinique et pharmacovigilance, centre d'addictovigilance PACA-Corse, CHU, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frauger
authors.affiliation: Service de pharmacologie, centre d'addictovigilance de Caen, CHU Côte de Nacre, 14033 Caen cedex 09, France. Electronic address: debruyne-d@chu-caen.fr.
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Debruyne
keywords: Addictovigilance; Ecstasy; MDMA