The Epidemiology of Ecstasy Use and Harms in Australia

Abstract

Aims:This paper examines the epidemiology of ecstasy use and harm in Australia using multiple data sources. Design: The data included (1) Australian Customs Service 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) detections; (2) the National Drug Strategy Household and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Surveys; (3) data from Australia’s ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System; (4) the number of recorded police incidents for ecstasy possession and distribution collated by the N.S.W. Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research; (5) the number of calls to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service and Family Drug Support relating to ecstasy; (6) the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset on number of treatment episodes for ecstasy, and (7) N.S.W. Division of Analytical Laboratories toxicology data on number of deaths where MDMA was detected. Findings: Recent ecstasy use among adults in the general population has increased, whereas among secondary students it has remained low and stable. The patterns of ecstasy consumption among regular ecstasy users have changed over time. Polydrug use and use for extended periods of time (>48 h) remain common among this group. Frequent ecstasy use is associated with a range of risk behaviours and other problems, which tend to be attributed to a number of drugs along with ecstasy. Few ecstasy users present for treatment for problems related to their ecstasy consumption. Conclusions: Messages and interventions to reduce the risks associated with polydrug use and patterns of extended periods of use are clearly warranted. These messages should be delivered outside of traditional health care settings, as few of these users are engaged with such services.

Choosing a Cut-Off on the Severity of Dependence Scale for Ecstasy Use

“…This is comparable with studies of sentinel samples of ecstasy users internationally using different instruments [5][6][7]. This demonstrates that the experience of problems relating to ecstasy may be more common than would be expected on the basis of presentations to drug treatment -just 53 per million adult population in Australia in 2005/06, compared to 35,500 per million reporting recent ecstasy use [8] -and underscores the importance of screening for problems with use.…”

MDMA: Neurohormonal, Neurocognitive, and Psychobiological Aspects of Recreational Ecstasy

“…Louisa Degenhardt and Raimondo Bruno noted how the use of MDMA had been increasing worldwide in recent years, and Australia was consistent with this trend [1,2]. Research in Australia had benefited from the collation of multiple state and national data sources through the National Illicit Drug Indicators Project, which provided detailed information about trends in usage, and drug-related harm.…”

Stimulant use disorders and psychosis: prevalence, correlates and impacts

“…South East Asia has been described as the "global hub" of methamphetamine production and use , accounting for more than 60% of global methamphetamine seizures and more than half of the world's methamphetamine users. In South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, methamphetamine has been the most widely used stimulant, however there has also been a recent increase in the usage of MDMA (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008;Degenhardt et al, 2009b).…”

“…In 2010, the rate of recent substance use in Australian males aged 20-29 ranged from 6.8% for methamphetamine to 11.4% for MDMA (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). Stimulant use is also associated with other risk factors for psychiatric illness including social marginalisation, lower education, a family history of mental health or drug problems, prior anxiety and depressive symptoms and the use of other drugs (Russell et al, 2008;Degenhardt et al, 2007b;Degenhardt et al, 2007c;Degenhardt et al, 2008c;Degenhardt et al, 2009b). This concentration of use implies that stimulants may have potentially greater effects than their 2-3% population prevalence may suggest, precisely because their rate of use is highest in people who are most vulnerable to psychosis.…”

“…Second, individuals often use more than one type of stimulant drug. In particular ecstasy use often overlaps with amphetamine and other drug use (Degenhardt et al, 2009b;Kinner et al, 2008;Keyes et al, 2008).…”