 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Robert G. Carlson, PhD, Jichuan Wang, Russel Falck, MA, Harvey Siegal, PhD, and Jill A. McCaughan, PhD. Community Health, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435, 937-775-2066, robert.carlson@wright.edu
Recent studies have suggested that ecstasy users are at significant risk for long-term consequences associated with their drug use, including memory loss and other psychological sequelae. This is one of the first studies to examine self-reported, long-term adverse consequences related to ecstasy use among active users. Using a respondent-driven sampling plan, 230 recent ecstasy users were recruited. Eighty-three percent of the sample were white, 66.1% were men, and the mean age was 21.3. Occasions of ecstasy use ranged from 1 to 700 (median=12). Over 80% of the participants reported no long-term adverse consequences associated with ecstasy use. Forty (17.4%) participants did report an array of negative effects. The most common adverse effects included memory loss (32.5%), depression (32.5%), drug dependence (12.5%), anxiety, panic attacks, or paranoia (10%), and jaw/teeth related problems (10%). Logistic regression was used to examine the adverse consequences of ecstasy use, controlling for other drug use and socio-demographic characteristics. Compared to people who used ecstasy 1-10 times, people who used ecstasy 11-20 times had an odds ratio 3.7 times larger of reporting long-term consequences, and people who used ecstasy 21-50 times had an even larger odds ratio (8.2). Participants who were frequent methamphetamine users were also significantly more likely to report long-term problems associated with ecstasy use. Limitations include the small, non-random sample and self-report data. The study reveals that the majority of ecstasy users do not feel they have suffered long-term consequences. Additional research is needed to compare these results with clinical assessments.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.