ABSTRACT
In general, males have a higher incidence of illicit drug use, including the use of ‘club drugs’, such as ecstasy. Over the past several years, however, an upward swing in the incidence of methlenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), or ecstasy, use has been seen in both genders, rising from 2% in the general US population in the mid90’s (SAMHSA 2004a; von Sydow et al. 2002). Use increased dramatically between 1998 and 2001(Landry 2002; National Institute on Drug Abuse 2001; Rosenbaum 2002; Schwartz & Miller 1997; Sullivan 2000; Weir 2000), and leveled off between 2002 and 2003 (Johnston et al. 2003; Johnston & O’Malley 2001; SAMHSA 2005). Even more interesting is the fact that while use among males has increased slightly, female incidence has done so drastically, with one study reporting a 200% increase from 3.8% to 7.6% (von Sydow et al. 2002). In addition, more and more young people under the age of 17 have started using ecstasy (Arria et al. 2002; GouzoulisMayfrank et al. 2000; Milani et al. 2004; Moeller et al. 2002; SAMHSA 2004a, 2005). Studies have shown that a large portion (20%-40%) of those users are female (Milani et al. 2004). Past the age of 17, female incidence drops to approximately the same level as male incidence, and after age 22-25, incidence drops drastically among females, as compared to males (Ho, Karimi-Tabesh & Koren 2001; Milani et al. 2004; Parrott & Lasky 1998; Pope, Jr., Ionescu-Pioggia & Pope 2001; Pumariega, Rodriguez & Kilgus 2004). Another distinct feature of ecstasy use is polysubstance abuse, with tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and LSD being used in conjunction with ecstasy (Ho, Karimi-Tabesh & Koren 2001; Milani et al. 2004; Schuster et al. 1998). Numerous studies have shown that the strongest connections are between
ecstasy and marijuana and/or cocaine, with 84% and 72% concurrence, respectively (Gamma et al. 2000; Gamma et al. 2001; Ho, Karimi-Tabesh & Koren 2001; von Sydow et al. 2002). In addition, the increased use of ecstasy in the population has been related to more intensive patterns of ecstasy use by individuals (Scholey et al. 2004).
