Drug and Alcohol Review
November 2018
Jodie Grigg, Monica J Barratt, Simon Lenton
The term 'double dropping' refers to a person consuming two drugs simultaneously, typically two ecstasy pills. This practice has been reported in numerous countries, including Australia; however, the prevalence and correlates of double dropping among ecstasy users is unknown. Double dropping is particularly risky when adulteration of 'ecstasy' with novel substances and higher dosages of MDMA in...
Drug and Alcohol Review
October 9, 2018
F. Fernández-Calderón, C. Díaz-Batanero, Monica J Barratt et al.
Introduction and Aims: Polysubstance users are a high-risk population for negative health-related consequences. Although some studies have described harm reduction strategies adopted by polysubstance users, studies have not examined their effectiveness in minimising health-related consequences. We aimed to identify dosing-related harm reduction strategies in a sample of polysubstance-using...
Drug and Alcohol Review
February 2018
Monica J Barratt, Raimondo Bruno, Nadine Ezard et al.
This study aimed to determine design features of a drug-checking service that would be feasible, attractive and likely to be used by Australian festival and nightlife attendees. Web survey of 851 Australians reporting use of psychostimulants and/or hallucinogens and attendance at licensed venues past midnight and/or festivals in the past year (70% male; median age 23 years). A drug-checking...
Drug and Alcohol Review
April 10, 2017
Stephen Bright, M.l. Williams, David Caldicott
5 citations
As recently noted by Strauss, Bright and Williams 1, while much of the Western world has been experiencing a renaissance in research into ‘psychedelic science’ over the past decade 2, there has been no such research conducted in Australia. In Europe and the USA, studies have been conducted into lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) that have improved our understanding of brain function 3 and reduced...
Drug and Alcohol Review
March 1, 2016
Adam Winstock, Will Lawn, P. Deluca et al.
AbstractIntroduction and AimsTo assess the prevalence of use and subjective effect profile of methoxetamine among a group of polydrug users.Design and MethodsCross‐sectional, anonymous, online survey of UK‐based polydrug users was conducted. Prevalence of lifetime, last year and last month use, sourcing of the drugs, motivations for use, and subjective effect and risk profile compared with that...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 21, 2012
Janine V. Olthuis, Christine Darredeau, Sean P. Barrett
79 citations
Abstract Introduction and Aims. Simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) is a common phenomenon, yet little is known about its role in substance use initiation. Design and Methods. In the present study, 226 cannabis users completed structured interviews about their substance use history. For each substance ever used, participants provided details of their age of first use, their use in the...
Drug and Alcohol Review
September 15, 2011
Stuart A. Kinner, Jessica George, Jennifer M. Johnston et al.
19 citations
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: A significant proportion of young Australians engage in risky alcohol consumption, and an increasing minority are regular ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) users. Risky alcohol use, alone or in combination with ecstasy, is associated with a range of acute and chronic health risks. The aim of this study was to document the incidence and some health-related...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2010
Silvia Minozzi, Marina Davoli, Anna Maria Bargagli et al.
80 citations
ISSUES: Cross-sectional surveys have revealed that cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Western countries. Cannabis intoxication can lead to acute, transient psychotic symptoms and the short-term exacerbation of pre-existing psychotic symptoms. However, controversy exists about whether cannabis can actually cause long-term psychosis. APPROACH: We summarised the findings of...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2009
Leanne M Hides, David J. Kavanagh, Sharon Dawe et al.
Abstract: Introduction and Aims. Little is known about motives or expectancies for cannabis use in psychotic populations, despite these cognitive factors being a central focus of the treatment for substance misuse in psychosis. This study examined the relationship between cannabis use expectancies, cannabis use and psychotic symptoms among cannabis using psychotic inpatients. A secondary aim...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2007
Megan A. Harvey, John D. Sellman, Richard Porter et al.
AbstractResearch indicates that cannabis continues to be a popular illegal drug internationally. Furthermore, adolescent rates of use appear to be significant. Whilst the non‐acute effect of cannabis use on adult cognition has been extensively researched, there has been less examination of adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the non‐acute relationship between cannabis and cognitive...
Drug and Alcohol Review
2007
Kelly J. Clemens, Iain S. Mcgregor, Glenn E. Hunt et al.
55 citations
Abstract The substituted amphetamines 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) and methamphetamine (METH, ‘ice’, ‘speed’) are increasingly popular drugs amongst party‐drug users. Studies with humans have investigated the acute and possible long‐term adverse effects of these drugs, yet outcomes of such studies are often ambiguous due to a variety of confounding factors. Studies...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2006
Michael Lyvers
41 citations
The controversy over possible MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity in human recreational ecstasy users is examined critically in light of recent research findings. Although the designs of such studies have improved considerably since the 1990s, the evidence to date remains equivocal for a number of reasons, including (1) inconsistent findings on the existence and reversibility of persistent...
Drug and Alcohol Review
July 1, 2005
Joachim D. Uys, Raymond J.m. Niesink
35 citations
Epidemiological studies show that the use of club drugs is on the rise. Furthermore, the last few decades have seen a rise in patterns of polydrug use. One of the combinations frequently used is ecstasy (MDMA) with gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB). For effective prevention it is important to be aware of this phenomenon and of the pharmacology of these drugs. The effects of the combination extend to...
Drug and Alcohol Review
December 1, 2004
BOB Green, David J. Kavanagh, Ross McD. Young
Abstract: Psychoses are relatively low prevalence disorders that have a disproportionately negative impact on individuals and society. Cannabis use is one factor that can exacerbate the negative consequences associated with psychotic disorders. Relatively few studies have examined the effects or reasons for using cannabis self‐reported by individuals with psychosis. The present study is the...
Drug and Alcohol Review
November 30, 2004
Wayne Hall, Louisa Degenhardt, Maree Teesson
105 citations
This paper evaluates three hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis in the light of recent evidence from prospective epidemiological studies. These are that: (1) cannabis use causes a psychotic disorder that would not have occurred in the absence of cannabis use; (2) that cannabis use may precipitate schizophrenia or exacerbate its symptoms; and (3) that cannabis use...
Drug and Alcohol Review
March 2002
Linda R Gowing, Susan M Henry-Edwards, Rodney J. Irvine et al.
Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is the third most used illicit drug, after cannabis and amphetamines. There has been considerable interest in the adverse effects of use, with particular attention given to a small number of deaths related to ecstasy use, and the neurotoxic effects of MDMA. This paper reviews case reports of adverse effects attributed to ecstasy use, and the...
Drug and Alcohol Review
September 1, 2000
Robert F. Grace, Gillian Shenfield, Christopher C Tennant
Abstract: This study assessed the duration of admission and time to relapse in 62 acute psychiatric in‐patients who had urinary drug screens performed because of suspicion of illicit drug use. Some 51% of those with psychosis (n = 45) and 29% of those with non‐psychotic illness (n = 17) were THC‐positive although this was not significant. In those with recurrent admissions for psychosis...
Drug and Alcohol Review
December 1, 1998
W Hall
This paper reviews evidence on two hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis. The first hypothesis is that heavy cannabis use may cause a "cannabis psychosis"-a psychosis that would not occur in the absence of cannabis use, the symptoms of which are preceded by heavy cannabis use and remit after abstinence. The second hypothesis is that cannabis use may precipitate...
Drug and Alcohol Review
June 1, 1996
J M White, C F Ryan
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that is being used in non-medical contexts. The effects of ketamine are very similar to those of phencyclidine, another dissociative anaesthetic that has enjoyed considerable popularity as a recreational drug. The effects of ketamine include analgesia, cardiovascular and respiratory stimulation, dissociation, hallucinations and anaesthesia. The potential...
Drug and Alcohol Review
October 1, 1993
John FitzGerald
4 citations
While positivist science dominates the drug and alcohol research sector, alternative constructivist paradigms of inquiry into drug and alcohol use are also present. The passage of individual researchers through paradigm shifts is often difficult, and rarely documented. Different paradigms of inquiry produce different types of information. The use of the psychoactive drug...