Age of Sexual Initiation, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Sexual Risk Behavior among Ecstasy and LSD Users in Porto Alegre, Brazil: A Preliminary Analysis.
Flávio Pechansky, Lysa Remy, Hilary L. Surratt, Steven P. Kurtz, Thiago Botter Maio Rocha, Lisia Von Diemen, Daniela Benzano Bumaguin, James Inciardi
Journal of Drug Issues March 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1177/002204261104100204 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study using standardized face-to-face interviews Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 200 |
| Population | Young, middle-class club-going male and female ecstasy and/or LSD users in large Brazilian cities |
| Topics | LSD MDMA |
| Key findings | Among 200 young Brazilian club-goers who used ecstasy and/or LSD, sexual debut before age 14 was associated with greater lifetime use of marijuana and powder and crack cocaine, and with past-year sexual risk behaviors including sex while high (prevalence ratio 1.3), two or more sex partners (prevalence ratio 1.3), and history of sexual abuse (prevalence ratio 13.6). Depression and anxiety scores were similar regardless of age of sexual initiation. |
Abstract
Ecstasy and LSD use is widespread in large Brazilian cities, but there is limited information on their use among young, middle-class, club goers in Brazil. We conducted standardized face-to-face interviews with 200 male and female ecstasy and/or LSD users, focusing on drug use and sexual history, current risk behaviors, and psychiatric symptomatology. Participants with early sexual debut (before 14) were more likely to report lifetime use of marijuana and powder and crack cocaine than those with later sexual initiation. Early sexual debut was associated with past year sexual risk behaviors, including having sex while high (Prevalence Ratio (PR)=1.3), having two or more sex partners (PR=1.3), as well as history of sexual abuse (PR=13.6). Depression and anxiety scores were similar by age of sexual initiation. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: A qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases | 2014 | Prospective follow-up with qualitative content analysis | n = 10 |
| Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Cluster headache patients who used psilocybin or LSD | 2006 | Qualitative study | n = 53 |
| Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences. Norwegian users of psychedelics | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 50 |
| Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook Active microdosing community | 2019 | Mixed-methods study | |
| Psychoactive substances as a last resort—a qualitative study of self-treatment of migraine and cluster headaches Users of online forums discussing cluster headache and migraine treatments | 2017 | Qualitative thematic analysis |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Long-Term Neuropsychiatric Consequences of "Ecstasy" (MDMA): A Review Harvard Review of Psychiatry 2002
- A profile of Ecstasy (MDMA) use in São Paulo, Brazil: an ethnographic study. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 2006
- Club drugs: reasons for and consequences of use. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 2004
- Ecstasy (MDMA): effects and patterns of use reported by users in São Paulo. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria March 2003