Drug use in South Wales: who uses Ecstasy anyway?

Human Research on MDMA (3,4-Methylene- dioxymethamphetamine) Neurotoxicity: Cognitive and Behavioural Indices of Change

“…In a sample of 3,021 German adolescents, 7.6% of the 22-to 24-year-olds stated that they had used Ecstasy or Ecstasy-like drugs, while 0.4% of the 14-to 15-year-olds admitted having taken it; moreover this survey also indicated: 'A substantial increase in the use of ecstasy ... the increase is strongest in the youngest age groups' [Schuster et al, 1998, p. 75]. The recreational use of Ecstasy seems to be increasing in every westernized country studied [Handy et al, 1998;NIDA, 1997;Schifano et al, 1998]. This widespread use is, however, of great concern, since laboratory animal research has shown that repeated doses of MDMA can cause prolonged serotonergic neurodegeneration [Green et al, 1995;Ricaurte et al, 1992;Ricaurte et al, 2000, in this issue; Steele et al 1994].…”

Is ecstasy MDMA? A review of the proportion of ecstasy tablets containing MDMA, their dosage levels, and the changing perceptions of purity

“…The recreational use of ecstasy/MDMA has been described in numerous articles (Renfroe 1986;Peroutka et al 1988;Solowij et al 1992;Cuomo et al 1994;Saunders 1995;Cohen 1998;Handy et al 1998;Wijngaart et al 1999;Schifano 2000;Parrott et al 2001;Spruit 2001;Winstock et al 2001). In historical terms, the use of MDMA was preceded by MDA, with Jackson and Reed (1970) noting that MDA was referred to as the "love pill" by recreational users in Wisconsin.…”

“…During the early 1990s, the first reports emerged of substantial numbers of ecstasy tablets not comprising MDMA, and this problem continued throughout the mid-1990s (Handy et al 1998;Wijngaart et al 1999;Spruit 2001). Then in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the proportion of ecstasy tablets containing MDMA reverted to high levels again (Schifano 2000;Winstock et al 2001;Cole et al 2002;Ramsey 2003).…”

“…Thus there are three broad historical phases in the ecstasy-MDMA relationship: from the 1970s to the early 1990s; during the mid-1990s; then the late 1990s to the present time. In this review of the evolution of the ecstasy/MDMA relationship, three types of study will be debated: firstly, biochemical analyses of the chemical constituents of ecstasy tablets (Renfroe 1986;Schifano 2000;Spruit 2001;Cole et al 2002); secondly, toxicological analyses of ecstasy-attributed fatalities (Dowling 1990;Henry et al 1992;Milroy et al 1996;Schifano et al 2003); and thirdly, subjective perceptions of purity, as described in the empirical literature on recreational ecstasy/MDMA (Peroutka et al 1988;Solowij et al 1992;Handy et al 1998;Winstock et al 2001). It should be emphasized that this area is fraught with methodological problems, which may limit the reliability of the findings.…”

Is the U.S. Experiencing an Incipient Epidemic of Hallucinogen Use?

“…At night's end, some clubbers smoked marijuana. Handy, Pater and Barrowcliff (22) documented that at the end of the night some clubbers snorted heroin to come down from the intense visual, auditory, aerobic, and chemical stimulation. Interestingly, the role of LSD and psychedelics among English club-goers has always been small, and appears to be disappearing altogether from the British recreational drug scene (13).…”