Ecstasy Use among Youth: an Examination of Psychosocial Factors

• Published in: International journal of mental health and addiction 2024-08, Vol.22 (4), p.2197-2209
• Main Authors: Burbage, Michelle L., Vidourek, Rebecca A., Lin, Ya-Hsuan, King, Keith A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Alcohol; Behavior; Community and Environmental Psychology; Drug abuse; Drug use; Ecstasy; Health Psychology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Participation; Peers; Perceptions; Psychiatry; Psychology; Public Health; Rehabilitation; Risk factors; Schools; Students; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1557-1874; 1557-1882
• DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00980-1

  The present study examined ecstasy past-year use among 7th–12th grade students ( N  = 38,753) in Greater Cincinnati schools. The PRIDE National Drug Use survey for grades 7–12 was administered to youth in their school classrooms. Results indicated that male students, 9th–12th grade students, non-Caucasian students, and employed students were at highest risk for ecstasy use. In addition, students with low involvement in protective factors (participation in community activities, school activities and clubs, sports, faith-based institutions, and getting good grades), parent factors, teacher factors and school factors, and high involvement in risk factors (taking part in gang activity, friend’s use of drugs, access to substances, and getting into trouble at school or with the law) were more likely to use this substance. These findings should be considered when developing programs to prevent ecstasy use among youth.