MDMA/Ecstasy use among young people in Ohio: perceived risk and barriers to intervention

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Robert G CarlsonHarvey A Siegal

Abstract

In the past several years, the use of MDMA (Ecstasy) has increased substantially in the United States and in many countries around the world. Although this increase has been associated with the dance club and rave scenes, Ecstasy use has expanded into new settings. At the same time, the diversity of people using the drug has also grown. Given the increasing, although unclear, evidence that MDMA has the potential to cause neurotoxicity and various psychological problems under certain conditions among humans, understanding how active users perceive the risks associated with Ecstasy use can help to inform prevention and intervention approaches. Based on audiotaped focus groups and individual interviews conducted with 30 Ecstasy users in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio, this article explores these and other issues. Results demonstrate that beyond the risk of obtaining something potentially deadly instead of MDMA, most users do not associate risks of neurotoxicity or psychological problems with Ecstasy use. Active users look to harm-reduction approaches for answers to using Ecstasy safely; prevention messages like, "just say no to drugs" are largely ignored. Because Ecstasy is commonly used among small groups of friends, peer leader or ot...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 9, 2005·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Robert G CarlsonHarvey A Siegal
May 10, 2006·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·Russel S FalckHarvey A Siegal
Oct 30, 2008·BMC Public Health·Gjalt-Jorn Ygram PetersHerman P Schaalma
Jul 15, 2009·BMC Public Health·Gjalt-Jorn Ygram Peters, Gerjo Kok
Nov 9, 2005·Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse·Julie M EisermanJean J Schensul
Oct 15, 2014·Behavior Therapy·Melissa M NorbergJan Copeland
Oct 26, 2011·Addiction Research & Theory·Juliet P LeeNaomi Brandes
Sep 14, 2012·Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment·Steven P KurtzMinxing Chen
Feb 8, 2011·Addictive Behaviors·S S MartinsR S Falck
Dec 11, 2007·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Silvia S MartinsHoward D Chilcoat
Oct 30, 2007·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Camille JacintoSheigla Murphy
Mar 16, 2012·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Raminta DaniulaityteRobert G Carlson
Jun 14, 2014·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Brian C KellyJichuan Wang
Apr 24, 2020·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·Fermín Fernández-CalderónÓscar M Lozano-Rojas
Apr 9, 2008·Substance Use & Misuse·Guus CrutsMargriet Van Laar

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