ABSTRACT
The use of ecstasy (MDMA) and other club drugs1 has increased dramatically in the US since the late 1990s. This growth in use has been accompanied by an escalation in concern about ecstasy and the young people who use it. The growth in ecstasy use has many causes, chief among which is the association between ecstasy use and the popularity of raves, clubs, and dance parties during this same period. Although the peak of raves may be past (arguably, raves peaked in 1994 in the UK and a bit later, in 2002, in the US), youth nightlife and dance scenes continue, ecstasy use among youth may be on the rise (Johnston et al. 2007), and attempts to control and regulate youth cultures persist.
