Emerging psychoactive substance use among regular ecstasy users in Australia.
Raimondo Bruno, Allison J Matthews, Matthew Dunn, Rosa Alati, Fairlie Mcilwraith, Sophie Hickey, Lucy Burns, Natasha Sindicich
Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.11.020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 693 |
| Population | Regular (at least monthly) ecstasy users in Australia |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 58 |
| Key findings | 28% of regular ecstasy users had used an emerging psychoactive substance in the past six months, with stimulant EPS users resembling mainstream ecstasy users and psychedelic EPS users being a distinct, higher-risk polydrug-using subgroup. |
Abstract
The past decade has seen the development of an array of emerging psychoactive substances (EPS), however, there is minimal information on the extent of their use outside Europe. This study aimed to determine the extent of use of EPS from stimulant (such as mephedrone) and psychedelic classes (such as 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine [5-MeO-DMT]) among an Australian sample of regular ecstasy users (REU). Further, to determine if consumers of these drugs represent a distinct subgroup of REU. Australian national cross-sectional surveys of 693 regular (at least monthly) ecstasy users conducted during 2010. More than one quarter (28%) of REU had used an EPS in the past six months, most commonly from the stimulant class (20%, typically mephedrone, 17%) rather than the psychedelic class (13%). Demographics and risk behaviours of REU that used stimulant EPS were largely no different from non-EPS consuming REU. Those using psychedelic EPS were distinct, initiating ecstasy use earlier, more frequently using multiple substances (cannabis, inhalants, GHB, ketamine) and more commonly experiencing legal, psychological and social problems. Psychedelic EPS use appears largely restricted to a distinct subset of REU with high-level non-injecting polydrug use, but use appears generally limited. The demographic similarity of stimulant EPS consumers with 'mainstream' REU, in conjunction with positive responses to the psychoactive effects of these drugs and declining ecstasy purity, suggests strong potential for stimulant EPS to expand further into ecstasy markets. Such drugs may have a greater public health impact than ecstasy, and merit careful monitoring into the future.
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 9
- A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2022
- The rise of new psychoactive substance use in Australia. Drug Testing and Analysis 2014
- Something New about Something Old: A 10-Year Follow-Up on Classical and New Psychoactive Tryptamines and Results of Analysis Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 1, 2017
- Consumption of new psychoactive substances in a Spanish sample of research chemical users. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental July 1, 2013
- Potentiation of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine-induced hyperthermia by harmaline and the involvement of activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Neuropharmacology February 1, 2015
and 4 more in the library
Cites 8
- Instability of the ecstasy market and a new kid on the block: mephedrone Journal of Psychopharmacology September 8, 2010
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Ecstasy: The Neuropsychobiological Implications of Taking It at Dances and Raves Neuropsychobiology 2004
- LSD Revisited Archives of General Psychiatry 1971
- Combined intoxication with methylone and 5-MeO-MIPT Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry July 30, 2006
- Morbidity involving the hallucinogenic designer amines MDA and 2C-I. Journal of Forensic Sciences November 1, 2009
and 3 more in the library