Recorded presentation

Silvia S. Martins, MD, PhD, Guido Mazzotti, MD, and Howard Chilcoat, ScD. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway P. O. Box 761, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2852, smartins@jhsph.edu

Objective: Epidemiologic studies show that ecstasy use is increasing in many countries, including the USA. Little is known about its association with alcohol use/ binge drinking. Clinical studies have already shown that consumption of both alcohol and ecstasy can increase the risk of development of psychopathological problems. The objectives of this study are: 1) to estimate the association of ecstasy use and alcohol use/binge drinking in USA, 2) to test whether this association changes when ecstasy use increases in the US population. Methods: Data were drawn from public use data files of the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), 1995 (17,747 respondents), 1997 (24,505 respondents), 1999 (53,560 respondents) and 2001 (55,561 respondents). Statistical analysis using chi-squared tests and logistic regression models was performed with STATA 8.0 software. Results: Lifetime ecstasy use increased from 1995 through 2001, especially in adolescents and young adults. More than 90% of ecstasy lifetime users had already used alcohol. Binge drinking increased steadily in ecstasy users from 1995 (45.75%) to 2001 (64.02%). Considering only young adults (18-25 years-old), 71.75% of the ecstasy users had binge drinking episodes in 2001.Conclusions: Ecstasy users might be at risk of developing alcohol disorders and the use of both drugs can increase the risk of harmful effects. Prevention and harm reduction strategies focusing both ecstasy and alcohol use need to be implemented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize the association between ecstasy and alcohol use/binge drinking
• Identify the risks of using both ecstasy and alcohol
• Discuss prevention and harm reduction strategies to decrease ecstasy and alcohol harmful effects

Keywords: Psychiatric Epidemiology, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation