Negative Experiences on Ecstasy: The Role of Drug, Set, and Setting
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 1, 2002 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2002.10399954 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 98 |
| Population | Current or former users of Ecstasy |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 56 |
| Key findings | Negative experiences with Ecstasy did not deter most users from using the drug again and were nearly always attributable to interactions between drug, set, and setting. |
Abstract
Similar to other sociological studies of Ecstasy use, the authors' research suggests that Ecstasy users tend to report positive effects of the drug. However, we also observed that most users experienced at least one adverse psychological outcome while using Ecstasy. The present study examines those negative experiences within the context of drug, set and setting. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 98 current or former users of Ecstasy. The results indicate that, in general, negative experiences with Ecstasy did not deter people from using the drug again. The findings suggest that most negative experiences with Ecstasy can be attributed to the interaction between two or more factors, nearly always involving set or setting. Although various analyses have shown that the same "brand" of Ecstasy can contain varying degrees of MDMA, other drugs and adulterants, results from the present study suggest that users' expectations of the drug's effects appear to be related to the brand or label of Ecstasy that is consumed. The role of individual disposition in producing negative drug experiences is less clear; it is possible that this factor might interact with user set or friends' set in contributing to the overall drug experience.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA | 1992 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| MDMA and Sexual Behavior: Ecstasy Users' Perceptions About Sexuality and Sexual Risk Current and former users of MDMA | 2005 | Qualitative study | n = 98 |
| Perceived Benefits of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy beyond Symptom Reduction: Qualitative Follow-Up Study of a Clinical Trial for Individuals with Treatment-Resistant PTSD Veterans, firefighters, and police officers with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD | 2019 | Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis | n = 19 |
| A Qualitative Exploration of Relational Ethical Challenges and Practices in Psychedelic Healing Practitioners who have administered MDMA and psilocybin to clients in underground... | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 23 |
| Patterns, Trends, and Meanings of Drug Use by Dance-drug Users in Edinburgh, Scotland Clubbers in clubs and pre-club bars | 2004 | Cross-sectional survey with focus groups | n = 124 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Set and setting, psychedelics and the placebo response: An extra-pharmacological perspective on psychopharmacology Journal of Psychopharmacology November 16, 2016
- Constructing drug effects: A history of set and setting Drug Science, Policy and Law 2017
- No Evidence that MDMA-Induced Enhancement of Emotional Empathy Is Related to Peripheral Oxytocin Levels or 5-HT1a Receptor Activation PLoS One June 27, 2014
- Race and ethnicity moderate the associations between lifetime psychedelic use (MDMA and psilocybin) and psychological distress and suicidality. Scientific Reports October 10, 2022
- American Trip The MIT Press eBooks July 14, 2020
and 17 more in the library
Cites 8
- Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) on brain serotonin neurons in human beings The Lancet October 1, 1998
- Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug British Journal of Addiction August 1, 1992
- Mood and cognitive effects of ± 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’): week‐end ‘high’ followed by mid‐week low Addiction July 1, 1997
- Multiple Severe Complications From Recreational Ingestion of MDMA ('Ecstasy') JAMA August 14, 1987
- Chronic paranoid psychosis after misuse of MDMA ("ecstasy") BMJ March 23, 1991
and 3 more in the library