Quitting Ecstasy: An Investigation of Why People Stop Taking the Drug and Their Subsequent Mental Health

Abstract

The regular use of ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) has been associated with depressed mood, anxiety and hostility, but it is not known whether such effects persist after people stop using the drug. Furthermore, little is known about what factors might influence the decision to quit using MDMA. The aim of the present study was to examine the reasons why ex-users had stopped using this drug and to assess their current levels of depression, anxiety, anger and aggression. Telephone interviews were conducted with people who used to take MDMA on a regular basis but who no longer used the drug. The participants comprised sixty-six ex-users who used to take MDMA regularly (at least once every 2 months over a period of at least 1 year), but who had not taken MDMA for at least 1 year (average 3 years). Participants were asked about why they had quit MDMA. They also completed questionnaires to assess trait mood. Ex-users could be divided into two groups based on their reason for quitting: (i) those who had quit for mental health reasons and (ii) those who had quit for circumstantial reasons. Approximately half of those in the mental health group scored in the range for clinical depression. In that group, current levels of depression and anxiety correlated significantly with the cumulative amount of MDMA that they had taken several years previously. These findings suggest that some users may either be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of MDMA or have pre-existing mental health problems for which they self-medicate by using ecstasy. The present study shows that some ex-users experience an impairment to mental health that persists for years after they stop using this drug.

Past 12-month and lifetime comorbidity and poly-drug use of ecstasy users among young adults in the United States: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

“…Additionally, our finding that former ecstasy users had a high prevalence of current major depression (whereas there is no difference between current ecstasy users and lifetime non-users in the prevalence of current major depression) may be indicative of long-term adverse effects of ecstasy use. Laboratory studies have indicated that psychological well-being may be impaired and depressive symptoms reported up to 2.5 years after the cessation of heavy ecstasy use (De Win et al, 2004;Gerra et al, 2000;MacInnes et al, 2001;Thomasius et al, 2003Thomasius et al, , 2005Verheyden et al, 2003b). However, our finding that the prevalence of depression is not elevated in current ecstasy users warrants further investigation into a possible delayed effect of ecstasy on a full-spectrum depression diagnosis.…”

“…First, data specifically covering frequency or quantity of ecstasy use were not available from the NESARC. Prior studies showing associations of higher quantity or frequency with depression and anxiety symptoms (Verheyden et al, 2003b;Thomasius et al, 2006;Topp et al, 1999) suggest the possibility of a dose-response relationship between frequency or quantity of ecstasy use and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Thus, by including experimental as well as regular ecstasy users in this sample, we have likely provided a very conservative estimate of the association between ecstasy use and psychiatric disorders.…”

Psychiatric Aspects Of MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine): The ‘Diathesis-Stress’ Explanatory Model

“…In a comprehensive review of this case study literature, around one third of individuals had premorbid problems, while most cases did not have prior vulnerability factors [3]. Larger population surveys have found that recreational Ecstasy use is associated with significantly raised levels of depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety, agoraphobia, and paranoid psychosis [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The occurrence of these problems is associated with lifetime Ecstasy/MDMA usage [4,5].…”

“…The occurrence of these problems is associated with lifetime Ecstasy/MDMA usage [4,5]. Furthermore, around 70% of recreational users report improved psychiatric wellbeing, after quitting ecstasy [6]. Other functional problems in *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Psychology, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK; Tel: +44(0)1792 295271; Fax: +44(0)1792 295679; E-mail: a.c.parrott@swansea.ac.uk memory/cognition, eating, sleep and sex, show similar doserelated associations with MDMA, suggesting that these psychiatric problems may be part of a wider dimension of neuropsychobiological distress [2,4].…”

“…As with every other recreational stimulant, this methamphetamine derivative is associated with increased levels of psychiatric distress. The empirical literature of case studies, larger cohort studies, and prospective surveys [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], will be reviewed ( Table 1).…”