1
|
Feltmann K, Elgán TH, Strandberg AK, Kvillemo P, Jayaram-Lindström N, Grabski M, Waldron J, Freeman T, Curran HV, Gripenberg J. Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4789. [PMID: 33946164 PMCID: PMC8125188 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Illicit drug use is prevalent in the nightlife scene, especially at electronic dance music (EDM) events. The aim of the present study was to investigate illicit drug use patterns and consequences of drug use among frequent visitors of EDM events. Young adults (18-34 years old) who had visited at least six EDM events in Sweden during the past year participated in a web-based survey on drug use patterns and its consequences. Fifty-nine percent of participants had used illicit drugs during the past year, most often cannabis followed by ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamine. Nightlife venues were identified as the main setting for the use of central stimulants, while cannabis was mostly used at home. Frequent alcohol and tobacco use was associated with illicit drug use. The most prevalent negative consequences of drug use were related to mental health, such as impairments in mood, sleep, and memory problems, but physical manifestations were also reported, such as palpitations and collapsing. These findings confirm that drug use is prevalent and associated with negative health effects among EDM nightlife attendees. The nightlife scene is a setting with promising potential to reach a high-risk target group with illicit drug use prevention interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Feltmann
- STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.E.); (A.K.S.); (P.K.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Tobias H. Elgán
- STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.E.); (A.K.S.); (P.K.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Anna K. Strandberg
- STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.E.); (A.K.S.); (P.K.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Pia Kvillemo
- STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.E.); (A.K.S.); (P.K.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Nitya Jayaram-Lindström
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Meryem Grabski
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; (M.G.); (J.W.); (T.F.); (H.V.C.)
| | - Jon Waldron
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; (M.G.); (J.W.); (T.F.); (H.V.C.)
| | - Tom Freeman
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; (M.G.); (J.W.); (T.F.); (H.V.C.)
- Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM), Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Helen Valerie Curran
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; (M.G.); (J.W.); (T.F.); (H.V.C.)
| | - Johanna Gripenberg
- STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.E.); (A.K.S.); (P.K.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, SE-113 64 Stockholm, Sweden;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Anderson K, Reavey P, Boden Z. 'Never drop without your significant other, cause that way lies ruin': The boundary work of couples who use MDMA together. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 71:10-18. [PMID: 31170684 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
MDMA has a variety of pro-social effects, such as increased friendliness and heightened empathy, yet there is a distinct lack of research examining how these effects might intertwine with a romantic relationship. This article seeks to compensate for this absence and explore heterosexual couples' use of MDMA through the lens of the boundaries they construct around these experiences. Three couple interviews, two diary interviews and eight written diaries about couples' MDMA practices were analysed. Douglas' (2001) and Stenner's (2013) work around order, disorder and what lies at the threshold between the two are employed here. This conceptual approach allows us to see what happens at the border of MDMA experiences as crucial to their constitution. Two main themes are identified in the data. First, MDMA use was boundaried from daily life both temporally and corporeally: the drug was tied to particular times in people's lives as well as the performance of rituals which engaged the material world and reenchanted everyday spaces and selves. Secondly, other people are excluded from MDMA experiences to varying degrees in order to preserve the emotionally intense space for the couple alone. This paper claims that MDMA use forms part of a spectrum of relationship 'work' practices; a unique kind of 'date night' that revitalises couples' connection. Hence, MDMA should be recognised as transforming couple as well as individual practices. Finally, it is suggested that harm reduction initiatives could distinguish more 'messy' forms of emotional harm and engage with users' language of 'specialness' to limit negative impacts of MDMA use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Anderson
- Department of Psychology, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom.
| | - Paula Reavey
- Department of Psychology, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom.
| | - Zoë Boden
- Department of Psychology, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Murphy PN, Erwin PG, Maciver L, Fisk JE, Larkin D, Wareing M, Montgomery C, Hilton J, Tames FJ, Bradley B, Yanulevitch K, Ralley R. The relationships of 'ecstasy' (MDMA) and cannabis use to impaired executive inhibition and access to semantic long-term memory. Hum Psychopharmacol 2011; 26:460-9. [PMID: 21898599 DOI: 10.1002/hup.1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relationship between the consumption of ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)) and cannabis, and performance on the random letter generation task which generates dependent variables drawing upon executive inhibition and access to semantic long-term memory (LTM). The participant group was a between-participant independent variable with users of both ecstasy and cannabis (E/C group, n = 15), users of cannabis but not ecstasy (CA group, n = 13) and controls with no exposure to these drugs (CO group, n = 12). Dependent variables measured violations of randomness: number of repeat sequences, number of alphabetical sequences (both drawing upon inhibition) and redundancy (drawing upon access to semantic LTM). E/C participants showed significantly higher redundancy than CO participants but did not differ from CA participants. There were no significant effects for the other dependent variables. A regression model comprising intelligence measures and estimates of ecstasy and cannabis consumption predicted redundancy scores, but only cannabis consumption contributed significantly to this prediction. Impaired access to semantic LTM may be related to cannabis consumption, although the involvement of ecstasy and other stimulant drugs cannot be excluded here. Executive inhibitory functioning, as measured by the random letter generation task, is unrelated to ecstasy and cannabis consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip N Murphy
- Evidence-Based Practice Research Centre and Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Steinkellner T, Freissmuth M, Sitte HH, Montgomery T. The ugly side of amphetamines: short- and long-term toxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'), methamphetamine and D-amphetamine. Biol Chem 2011; 392:103-15. [PMID: 21194370 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2011.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Amphetamine ('Speed'), methamphetamine ('Ice') and its congener 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') are illicit drugs abused worldwide for their euphoric and stimulant effects. Despite compelling evidence for chronic MDMA neurotoxicity in animal models, the physiological consequences of such toxicity in humans remain unclear. In addition, distinct differences in the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of MDMA between species and different strains of animals prevent the rationalisation of realistic human dose paradigms in animal studies. Here, we attempt to review amphetamine toxicity and in particular MDMA toxicity in the pathogenesis of exemplary human pathologies, independently of confounding environmental factors such as poly-drug use and drug purity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Steinkellner
- Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 13a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|