Flexistentialist
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2002
- Messages
- 1,742
Users struggle to break ecstasy's grip
By Gosia Kaszubska
April 20, 2004
ONE in five regular ecstasy users are showing signs of addiction and struggling to reduce their drug taking, new research shows.
The nationwide survey, presented at a conference in Melbourne yesterday, revealed that only 5 per cent of users took ecstasy on its own, with the majority combining the drug with other stimulants.
Experts said the snapshot of drug trends - the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre's Party Drug Initiative - showed 20 per cent of users were likely to be psychologically dependent on ecstasy.
"Most people would say that's the key issue - they feel they can't have a good time without it," research centre spokesman Paul Dillon, said.
"There's a fear that some people have tried to cut down and have not been able to."
The addictive properties of ecstasy are hotly disputed, with studies so far failing to conclusively prove or refute if users can become physically dependent on the drug.
Chief researcher Louise Degenhardt said 73 per cent of people who took ecstasy also tried amphetamines and 54 per cent used cocaine.
They tried an average of seven other illegal substances in any six-month period, Dr Degenhardt said, and the drugs most commonly combined with ecstasy pills were alcohol, cannabis and tobacco.
She said only small numbers of users had sought treatment, and her study showed the potential extent of the problem.
"This needs to be considered in assessing how effective treatment is offered," she said.
Almost 20 per cent of Australians aged 20 to 29 have taken ecstasy. The study shows the average regular user is aged 25. Most have completed Year 12, and more than 46 per cent have tertiary qualifications.
The Club Health 2004 conference heard the survey of 809 people showed about 33 per cent took ecstasy every week and almost half had binged on the drug - staying awake for more than 48 hours.
Mr Dillon said a small but growing group of ecstasy users suffered psychological problems such as panic attacks, anxiety and depression.
He said people who used recreational drugs were like "pseudo chemists" - mixing stimulants along semi-scientific principles.
By Gosia Kaszubska
April 20, 2004
ONE in five regular ecstasy users are showing signs of addiction and struggling to reduce their drug taking, new research shows.
The nationwide survey, presented at a conference in Melbourne yesterday, revealed that only 5 per cent of users took ecstasy on its own, with the majority combining the drug with other stimulants.
Experts said the snapshot of drug trends - the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre's Party Drug Initiative - showed 20 per cent of users were likely to be psychologically dependent on ecstasy.
"Most people would say that's the key issue - they feel they can't have a good time without it," research centre spokesman Paul Dillon, said.
"There's a fear that some people have tried to cut down and have not been able to."
The addictive properties of ecstasy are hotly disputed, with studies so far failing to conclusively prove or refute if users can become physically dependent on the drug.
Chief researcher Louise Degenhardt said 73 per cent of people who took ecstasy also tried amphetamines and 54 per cent used cocaine.
They tried an average of seven other illegal substances in any six-month period, Dr Degenhardt said, and the drugs most commonly combined with ecstasy pills were alcohol, cannabis and tobacco.
She said only small numbers of users had sought treatment, and her study showed the potential extent of the problem.
"This needs to be considered in assessing how effective treatment is offered," she said.
Almost 20 per cent of Australians aged 20 to 29 have taken ecstasy. The study shows the average regular user is aged 25. Most have completed Year 12, and more than 46 per cent have tertiary qualifications.
The Club Health 2004 conference heard the survey of 809 people showed about 33 per cent took ecstasy every week and almost half had binged on the drug - staying awake for more than 48 hours.
Mr Dillon said a small but growing group of ecstasy users suffered psychological problems such as panic attacks, anxiety and depression.
He said people who used recreational drugs were like "pseudo chemists" - mixing stimulants along semi-scientific principles.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
