Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City
© 2018 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Introduction and Aims: 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 user...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2019
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74131 |
| _version_ | 1848763188723580928 |
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| author | Palamar, J. Barratt, Monica |
| author_facet | Palamar, J. Barratt, Monica |
| author_sort | Palamar, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | © 2018 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Introduction and Aims: 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. Design and Methods: 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. Results: 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%). Discussion and Conclusions: 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:59:30Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-74131 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:59:30Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-741312019-02-19T04:27:42Z Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City Palamar, J. Barratt, Monica © 2018 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Introduction and Aims: 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. Design and Methods: 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. Results: 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%). Discussion and Conclusions: 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. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74131 10.1111/dar.12882 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted |
| spellingShingle | Palamar, J. Barratt, Monica Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title | Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title_full | Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title_short | Prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in New York City |
| title_sort | prevalence of reagent test-kit use and perceptions of purity among ecstasy users in an electronic dance music scene in new york city |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74131 |