The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60873

Lee Crandall, PhD¹, Hayley B. Tammara, MPH², and Alison Anderson, MS¹. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, P.O Box 016069, Miami, FL 33101, (305) 243-3021, lcrandal@med.miami.edu, (2) Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, PO Box 016069, Miami, FL 33101

In September 2002 the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported to Congress that MDMA (ecstasy) use is spreading beyond young white populations frequenting "raves" and that the demographics of use are changing to include more African-Americans and Hispanics. To assess correlates of current MDMA use among Florida adolescents, we analyzed data from the 2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, a statewide sample of approximately 63,000 in-school youth. While about six percent of respondents reported ever having tried MDMA, only two percent reported use in the preceding 30 days. Current use of MDMA was strongly associated with other illicit drug use. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed only marginal effects of gender, (females more likely to use), or grade in school and no effect of ethnicity on use. There was also no “protection” associated with living in more rural areas. When four domains of risk and protective factors were examined, the most salient risk factor at the community level was perceived availability of drugs. Poor family supervision was the lone family risk factor of significance and no school domain factors were significant in the final model. A number of risk factors from the individual and peer domain predicted current MDMA use, including sensation seeking, favorable attitudes toward drug use, low perceived risk, early initiation of drug use, gang involvement, and drug use by peers. MDMA use among adolescents in Florida appears to have moved from “rave” venues to become one of many substances used by poly-drug users in all types of communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize changing prevalence of ecstasy use among adolescents.
• Evaluate demographic, community, family, school and individual/peer risk and protective factors

Keywords: Substance Abuse Assessment, Adolescent Health

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.