Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City.
Joseph J Palamar, Monica J Barratt
Drug and Alcohol Review January 2019 DOI: 10.1111/dar.12882 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 351 |
| Population | Past-year ecstasy users aged 18-40 entering electronic dance music parties in New York City in 2017 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Designer drugs Drug users Hallucinogens Harm reduction |
| Key findings | Among 351 past-year ecstasy users, 23.1% reported testing their ecstasy in the past year; testing was less likely among those with more education and those buying from unknown or untrustworthy dealers, and more likely among frequent pill or crystal users. About half (51.1%) reported finding out or suspecting their ecstasy contained a drug other than MDMA, and 49.2% of those reported methamphetamine or speed/amphetamine. The authors suggest drug testing helps detect adulterants and can inform harm reduction. |
Abstract
Ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene are at high risk for using ecstasy adulterated with new psychoactive substances and/or methamphetamine. We examined self-reported testing of ecstasy among users in this scene. We surveyed individuals (aged 18-40 years) entering electronic dance music parties in New York City in 2017. Past-year ecstasy users (n = 351) were asked if they had tested their ecstasy in the past year. We estimated prevalence and correlates of having tested one's ecstasy. 23.1% reported having tested their ecstasy in the past year. Those with some college (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 0.49, P = 0.014) or a college degree (aPR = 0.41, P = 0.025) were less likely to test their ecstasy than those with a high school diploma or less. Using ecstasy pills (aPR = 1.89, P = 0.036) or crystals (aPR = 1.90, P = 0.006) ≥3 times in the past year was associated with increased likelihood of testing one's ecstasy, and purchasing from an unknown or untrustworthy dealer was associated with decreased likelihood (aPR = 0.63, P = 0.034) of testing one's ecstasy. Half (51.1%) of ecstasy users reported finding out or suspecting their ecstasy had contained a drug other than MDMA. Of these, 49.2% reported finding out their ecstasy contained methamphetamine or speed/amphetamine. Most ecstasy users reported that they would be less likely to use again upon learning their ecstasy contained 'bath salts' (54.8%) or methamphetamine (54.3%). Drug testing appears to help ecstasy users detect adulterants and results can help inform harm reduction efforts. Less frequent users in particular may require education about adulteration and drug-testing.
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 6
- Profile and correlates of colorimetric reagent kit use among people who use ecstasy/MDMA and other illegal stimulants in Australia. International Journal of Drug Policy November 1, 2021
- Substance use, harm reduction attitudes and behaviors among attendees of nature rave parties in Israel. Harm Reduction Journal August 9, 2023
- Ecstasy, molly, MDMA: What health practitioners need to know about this common recreational drug. Disease-a-month : DM March 1, 2025
- Harm reduction behaviours and harm experiences of people who use 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Harm Reduction Journal March 21, 2024
- Increases in the use of drug testing kits among nightclub and festival attendees in New York City who use ecstasy, 2017-2022. Drug and Alcohol Review May 1, 2024
and 1 more in the library
Cites 14
- The Background and Chemistry of MDMA Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Human psychobiology of MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’: an overview of 25 years of empirical research Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental July 1, 2013
- The detection and prevention of unintentional consumption of DOx and 25x‐NBOMe at Portugal's Boom Festival Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 1, 2017
- The preclinical pharmacology of mephedrone; not justMDMAby another name British Journal of Pharmacology March 24, 2014
- MDMA on the Street: Analysis Anonymous® Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
and 9 more in the library