The Role of MDMA (Ecstasy) in Coping with Negative Life Situations Among Urban Young Adults
Lwendo S. Moonzwe, Jean J. Schensul, Kristin M. Kostick
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2011.605671 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Urban youth |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Urban youth without a diagnosed mental illness are more likely than diagnosed and treated youth to use Ecstasy to cope with situational stress and lifetime trauma; diagnosed and treated youth do not choose Ecstasy for psychological stress mediation. |
Abstract
This article examines the role of Ecstasy (MDMA or 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) as a drug used for self-medication and coping with both short- and long-term negative life situations. We show that urban youth who do not have a specific diagnosed mental illness are more likely than those who have been diagnosed and have received treatment to use Ecstasy to cope with both situational stress and lifetime trauma. Diagnosed and treated youth sometimes self-medicate with other drugs, but do not choose Ecstasy for mediation of their psychological stress. We discuss the implications of self-medication with Ecstasy for mental health services to urban youth experiencing mental health disparities, and for the continued testing and prescription of MDMA for therapeutic use in controlled clinical settings.
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 |
| Negative Experiences on Ecstasy: The Role of Drug, Set, and Setting Current or former users of Ecstasy | 2002 | Qualitative study | n = 98 |
| 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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Use and abuse of dissociative and psychedelic drugs in adolescence Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior January 27, 2021
- Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘ecstasy’ and self-focused compassion: Preliminary steps in the development of a therapeutic psychopharmacology of contemplative practices Journal of Psychopharmacology May 18, 2015
- Coping motives mediate the relationship between PTSD and MDMA use in adolescents with substance use disorders Addiction Science & Clinical Practice September 4, 2022
- Self-reported PTSD is associated with increased use of MDMA in adolescents with substance use disorders European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2021
- Tripping to Cope: Coping Strategies and Use of Hallucinogens during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Three Cultural Contexts Psychoactives September 2, 2022
and 5 more in the library
Cites 18
- Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Gender differences in the subjective effects of MDMA Psychopharmacology March 5, 2001
- Human psychopharmacology of Ecstasy (MDMA): a review of 15 years of empirical research Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental December 1, 2001
- A review of the acute subjective effects of MDMA/ecstasy Addiction March 24, 2006
- Ecstasy (MDMA) in Recreational Users: Self-Reported Psychological and Physiological Effects Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 1, 1997
and 13 more in the library