NEWS: [The Age] 18/02/2004 - 'Ecstasy use by young increasing'

[hoptis]

Ecstasy use by young increasing
By Carol Nader
February 18, 2004

Ecstasy use is growing among young Australians, with an increasingly diverse group taking the drug, a national study has revealed.

One in five people in their 20s had tried ecstasy, and one in 10 had used it the previous year, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. Among teenagers, 7 per cent had taken ecstasy.

The study also identified a worrying trend for a potentially lethal combination of ecstasy and alcohol - both dehydrators - taken together. Ecstacy was also sometimes taken with other drugs, such as cannabis.

The study, based on the Federal Government's 2001 national drug strategy household survey of 26,700 people, found those in their 20s who had used ecstasy recently had increased significantly from 1998, when it was 8.4 per cent.

Previous studies found that ecstasy users were typically middle-class, white, well educated or studying. Ecstasy is the third most popular illicit drug in Australia, behind cannabis and amphetamines. But its growing use in Australia appears to go against trends in Britain and the US, where it is reported to have declined in popularity.

Users of ecstasy are also less sophisticated and less underground than they were a few years ago. Simon Lenton, senior research fellow at Curtin University's National Drug Research Institute, said there had been a shift out of the rave scene and into the mainstream.

The study also showed that amphetamines are still popular with young people who are taking them to stay awake and study, to stay thin or to enhance their performance.

Here:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/17/1076779973104.html

Can't say I disagree with any of these findings, I think we've all seen it in the last few years, ecstasy as a staple of the diet of young, healthy, growing Australian boys and girls has moved away from being a drug found exclusively in the rave scene.

What about it's growing use here, as opposed to the trend in Britain and the US where it's popularity has declined? Are we going to follow that trend or does it have more to do with anti-rave laws and the state of the dance music scene in those countries?

 

[phase_dancer]

Are we going to follow that trend or does it have more to do with anti-rave laws and the state of the dance music scene in those countries?

Interesting point. A few years ago, besides drugs being illegal, no particular emphasis was placed on venue raids and public bust operations, as is seen today. In many ways it seemed what was a hit in England could be expected to follow in Australia, even if this was a year more later.

I can cite many examples of this, not least the resurgence in use experienced when MDMA in the form of Mitsubishis surfaced worldwide after a drought. Another obvious one is G. It took some time to get a hold in Aus, but that's possibly also due the scene still being somewhat in it's infancy when it arrived.

As the article says, MDMA use has expanded from being predominately an underground practice, into mainstream event attendance and non-dance connected sociallising. But as pointed out, different approaches to law enforcement, and social/educational programs, not forgetting the still occuring genesis of the Aus Dance scene, may mean trends overseas don't necessarily dictate the future and what's to follow here.

It's all new ground from here on.......

 

[Jamie Oliver]

Obviously we can only hope that Australia, as the 53rd US State, doesn't seek to introduce these draconian anti-rave laws, and I seriously doubt they will due to a strong civil liberties prescence in this country.

History shows that drug popularity levels will fluctuate, think of the changing trends over the past few decades.

While ecstacy use in the UK is declining it should be rememebered how massive the drug still is over there. I read a recent stat that at least 2 million pills are consumed in the UK every weekend. And anyone that has been there will be aware of the flooded market resulting in very cheap prices. It is still cheaper to buy a pill than a pint in a lot of places in the UK. Having discussed this with friends in England they believe that the drug has been destigmatised due to its prevelence and as a result people are less likely to seek it on the basis that it's almost become blase.

What do you guys think?

 

[phase_dancer]

I think you're possibly quite correct in that assumption Jamie Oliver. It's also reported in several recent articles on 2CI popularity.

On the anti-rave proliferation lobby; Although some parts of the initially rejected legislation have been "sneaked through" in the US under the guise of other health and law amendments such as child safety etc., any final banning on raves/doofs in this country could eventuate through more indirect means. Police presence and noted arrests at events could simply squeeze out undesirable promoters. There's already legislation in each state preventing free parties or underground doofs, even if these events are to held on private land. In NSW and Qld there are strict rules and permits required for entering state and national forests. In NSW, non-approved forest doofs have been legislated against in areas of natural heritage and environmental protection.

In Qld, if you put on a party on your land, even if you annoy no neighbors, minimally upset wildlife and have a good safety plan, if council gets wind of it before the date, you'll be very likely informed that failure to cancel the party will result in a $65K fine. It could even be higher since I last heard.

Our neighboring shire has already issued at least one of these fines.

However, I see it being hard to influence small rural towns which have come to love the doofers. In many places throughout Australia, doofs bring money to poor towns, and generally, the locals support them wholeheartedly.

 

[zaki]

Interesting read.

I like to believe that Australia is moving in the direction that we as its people are beginning to stand on our own 2 feet and take less influence from the US and UK. We will see more of this over the next 50 years i am sure. However it will take many years for this country to truly become our own.

Drugs like MDMA just make me proud to be who i am and our rave culture just makes me love this country and importantly my city (Melbourne).

 

[sydkiwi]

I live in sydney

1. we have probably the most policed both uniformed, undercover and the four legged variety raves in aussie and for that matter nz. go read the threads on our sniffer dog problem.

2. apart from the night clubs and nye/nyd events the only over 18s event we have is [Event details removed; p_d]. So go out to a rave and your guarenteed to see a 14-17yr old on e. That article doesnt surprise me one bit. Just maybe how long they've taken to catch on to it.

That's twice today sydkiwi Please use discretion when referring to drug taking at events, and DO NOT post any event name, unless referring DIRECTLY to a media article or publication. Association and/or public acknowledgement regarding drugs at events, is the quickest way to bring trouble to promoters. If it's the only such event left, treasure it. phase_dancer

 

[S-R]

These results are from '2001? Hmmmm, be interesting to see just how popular MDMA usage is right now...

 

[BigTrancer]

Banning raves...? MDMA is being used by sections of society "other than ravers"... why ban raves and thwart a section of the drug using community when you can test people's saliva by the road side instead and get the lot? In parts of the USA they don't even breath test for alcohol when you get pulled over, but if they think you're drunk they just ask you to stand on one foot or walk a straight line...

BigTrancer

 

[spero]

Half the raves held are illegal anyway. (well most American ones.) Just because they are being banned doesnt mean they are going to stop.

 

[Quintell]

S-R : I guess we'll see when the turning point survey results come out

 

[Dvah]

From what I have read/heard, I would have to agree with P_D in saying that I believe that the decrease in the use of MDMA in the uk would be more than likely due to the fact that "other new and exciting" drugs have taken its place, for the time being anyway.
2ci is very popular in pill form in the UK now, and its alot cheaper to buy apparently, so this would almost definitely mean a decrease in the use of MDMA, and I believe that it is already being labelled a new designer drug.
This, I find a little frightening, as the dosage of 2ci needs to be measured so much more accurately than that of MDMA, but it was only a matter of time before this happened anyway.