A survey of regular ecstasy users' knowledge and practices around determining pill content and purity: Implications for policy and practice.

Johnston, Jennifer W., Barratt, Monica J., Fry, Craig L., Kinner, Stuart, Stoove, Mark, Degenhardt, Louisa J., George, Jessica F., Jenkinson, Rebecca, Dunn, Matthew and Bruno, Raimondo (2006) A survey of regular ecstasy users' knowledge and practices around determining pill content and purity: Implications for policy and practice.. International Journal of Drug Policy, 17 6: 464-472.


Author Johnston, Jennifer W.
Barratt, Monica J.
Fry, Craig L.
Kinner, Stuart
Stoove, Mark
Degenhardt, Louisa J.
George, Jessica F.
Jenkinson, Rebecca
Dunn, Matthew
Bruno, Raimondo
Title A survey of regular ecstasy users' knowledge and practices around determining pill content and purity: Implications for policy and practice.
Journal name International Journal of Drug Policy  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2006-12
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/j.drugpo.2006.03.008
Volume number 17
Issue number 6
ISSN 0955-3959
Start page 464
End page 472
Total pages 9
Editor T. Rhodes
G. Stimson
Place of publication Amsterdam
Publisher Elsevier
Collection year 2006
Language eng
Subject C1
321216 Health Promotion
730205 Substance abuse
Abstract Objective: To examine the methods used by a sample of regular ecstasy users to determine the content and purity of ecstasy pills, their knowledge of the limitations of available pill testing methods, and how pill test results would influence their drug use behaviour. Method: Data were collected from regular ecstasy users (n = 810) recruited from all eight capital cities of Australia. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression and chi-square (chi(2)) tests of association. Open-ended responses were coded for themes. Results: The majority of the sample(84%) reported attempting to find out the content and purity of ecstasy at least some of the time, most commonly asking friends or dealers. Less than one quarter (22%) reported personal use of testing kits. There was a moderate level of awareness of the limitations of testing kits among those who reported having used them. Over half (57%) of those reporting personal use of testing kits reported that they would not take a pill if test results indicated that it contained ketamine and over three quarters (76%) reported that they would not take an "unknown" pill (producing no reaction in a reagent test). Finally, a considerable majority (63%) expressed interest in pill testing should it be more widely available. Conclusions: The majority of regular ecstasy users sampled in this Australian study report previous attempts to determine the content and purity of pills sold as ecstasy. Although only a small proportion have used testing kits, many report that they would do so if they were more widely available. The results of pill tests may influence drug use if they indicate that pills contain substances which ecstasy users do not want to ingest or are of unknown content. More detailed research examining ways in which pill testing may influence drug use is required to inform evidence-based policy. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keyword Substance Abuse
ecstasy
Q-Index Code C1

 
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Created: Wed, 15 Aug 2007, 10:40:29 EST