Increasing Ecstasy Use Among Glasgow Drug Injectors

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Abstract
Although Ecstasy [Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] is known to have adverse health consequences, research has focused exclusively on oral use. An opportunity to determine the prevalence of Ecstasy use among drug injectors was afforded by an ongoing study of HIV related risk behaviour among this population in Glasgow. Five hundred plus injectors per annum were questioned between 1990-1992 on their use of Ecstasy. The proportion of injectors using Ecstasy increased from 4.8% in 1990 to 28.9% in 1992 while the proportion who reported injecting Ecstasy increased from 0.6% to 4.7%. The emergence of injecting as a means of administering Ecstasy adds a new dimension to the growing debate on how to control drugs, abuse of which has hitherto been largely confined to oral usage.