Increasing Use of “Ecstasy“ (MDMA) and other Hallucinogens on a College Campus
Michael J. Cuomo, Paul G. Dyment, Victoria M. Gammino
Journal of American College Health May 1, 1994 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.1994.9936359 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Random survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Undergraduate students at a private southern university |
| Topics | LSD MDMA Mescaline Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Mephedrone Population Drug |
| Citations | 82 |
| Key findings | From 1986 to 1990, cocaine and amphetamine use declined, while mescaline/psilocybin and MDMA use increased significantly among undergraduates. |
Abstract
We conducted a random survey of illicit drug use by undergraduate students at a private southern university in 1990 and compared the results with results from a similar 1986 survey of that college's student population. During the 4 years since the first study, the prevalence of cocaine use declined from 39% to 21%, and use of traditional amphetamines declined from 22% to 12%. No significant differences were found in the use of marijuana--68% in 1986, 64% in 1990--or in use of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)--14% in 1986, 17% in 1990. The use of mescaline/psilocybin increased from 8% to 24% and the use of MDMA, known as "Ecstasy" (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), increased from 16% to 24%. Mescaline/psilocybin and Ecstasy were more likely than the other drugs to have been used first during the students' college years, according to the 1990 study.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 26
- Acute psychological and physiological effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose?effect study Psychopharmacology March 1, 2004
- Reorganization of ascending 5-HT axon projections in animals previously exposed to the recreational drug (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") Journal of Neuroscience August 1, 1995
- MDMA (Ecstasy) and the Rave: A Review Pediatrics October 1, 1997
- Ecstasy (MDMA) in Recreational Users: Self-Reported Psychological and Physiological Effects Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 1, 1997
- Glutathione and N-Acetylcysteine Conjugates of α-Methyldopamine Produce Serotonergic Neurotoxicity: Possible Role in Methylenedioxyamphetamine-Mediated Neurotoxicity Chemical Research in Toxicology November 19, 1999
and 21 more in the library
Cites 6
- Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- The Background and Chemistry of MDMA Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Multiple Severe Complications From Recreational Ingestion of MDMA ('Ecstasy') JAMA August 14, 1987
- Hallucinogenic Mushrooms Clinical Pediatrics February 1, 1988
and 1 more in the library