From ecstasy to MDMA: Recreational drug use,symbolic boundaries,and drug trends |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Chicago, USA;2. Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, USA;1. The University of Queensland, The National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia;2. Queensland University of Technology, International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia;3. The University of Queensland, Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia.;4. School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia;5. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) Urban Water Management, Ueberlandstrasse 133, CH 8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland;6. Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;7. Queensland Health Forensic Scientific Services, Queensland Government, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia;8. School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia;9. School of Physical Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia;1. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;2. School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia;3. Social and Global Studies Centre and Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia;4. National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs, Sydney, Australia;5. St Vincent''s Hospital, Sydney, Australia;6. Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia;7. School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia;8. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia;9. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia;10. Centre for Crime Policy and Research, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundEcstasy pills with MDMA as the main ingredient were introduced in many European countries in the 1980s, and were often linked to the rave and club scenes. However, use gradually levelled off, in part as a response to increased concerns about possible mental health consequences and fatalities. Extensive use of MDMA now seems to be re-emerging in many countries. In this study, we investigated the cultural and social meaning associated with MDMA use in Oslo, Norway, with an emphasis on how users distinguish MDMA crystals and powder from “old ecstasy pills”.MethodsQualitative in-depth interviews (n = 31, 61,3% males) were conducted with young adult party-goers and recreational MDMA/ecstasy users (20–34 years old, mean age 26.2 years).ResultsResearch participants emphasised three important perceived differences between the MDMA crystals and ecstasy pills: (i) The effects of MDMA were described as better than ecstasy; (ii) MDMA was regarded as a safer drug; (iii) Users of MDMA crystals were described as more distinct from and less anchored in out-of-fashion rave culture than those using ecstasy. These differences were an important part of the symbolic boundary work MDMA users engaged in when justifying their drug use.ConclusionMDMA has re-emerged as an important psychoactive substance in Oslo’s club scene. One important reason for this re-emergence seems to be its perceived differentiation from ecstasy pills, even though the active ingredient in both drugs is MDMA. This perceived distinction between MDMA and ecstasy reveals the importance of social and symbolic meanings in relation to psychoactive substance use. Insights from this study can be important in terms of understanding how trends in drug use develop and how certain drugs gain or lose popularity. |
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| Keywords: | Recreational substance use MDMA crystals Ecstasy pills Symbolic boundaries Club drug use Lay epidemiology |
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