Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

The results highlighted that respondents frequented discos moderately(approximately once a month). There was no relationship between the frequency withwhich the individual went to a disco, the degree of familiarity with drugs, frequency ofsubstance use and the importance attributed to the “high”. There was a positiverelationship between the frequency of going to a disco, the importance attributed to thehigh, tendency to search for strong emotions and disinhibition, in particular. The 501choices given in reply to the question “What do you like most about discos?”, wereclassified in 4 spheres: characteristic of context (47,3%), aspects relating to interaction(35,7%), positive emotional aspects (11%), negative emotional states (6%).The results show that the greater the involvement in use, the greater the attraction ofthe disco for the emotional aspects it helped to achieve. The less soft drugs used, thegreater the feeling of attraction to the relational sphere.There is a later survey by Zoti (1996) on the neuropsychological and behaviouraleffects of exposure to ambiental stimuli in discos and on the characteristics of thosewho frequent them. The sample, comprising 160 young people between 18 and 24 yearsof age, consisted of 51% men and 48% women. Interviews were made on entering andleaving certain discos in May 1995. The survey shows that those who frequent discosgenerally leave the house after 10 p.m. to go to a bar or hamburger bar and arrive at thedisco after midnight. 70% of the men return home between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., 36% inthe early hours of the morning. 32% go to a disco more than once a week. 54% drive acar. As for the underlying motivations for frequenting discos, the majority of the youngpeople state that the disco responds to bodily requirements, visual and gregarious butnot verbal. 83% go to dance, 68% to get to know people, 60% to listen to the music,16% to meet someone of the opposite sex and only 9% go for sexual adventures. 56%of the young people would like greater anti-drug control in the discos. In addition theystate a particular desire to participate in evenings with famous guests (40%), and tolisten to new music (39%). As for drug use, 39% consider themselves to be non-users.17% consume alcoholic drinks before arriving at the disco. Their reasons for drinkingare; to be a little more lively (30%), to feel better in company (22%), to be a little dazed(13%). 36% maintain they can drive well even though they have had something to drink.4% say they have used narcotics before going into the disco. 34% of the boys say theyhave tried drugs which they define as “non-dangerous” just “out of curiosity” which,according to the interviewers, covers all the narcotics except heroin. 42% of the boyshad had one or two accidents which they defined as not serious, 11% 1 or 2 seriousaccidents and 2% 2 or 3 serious accidents.Among those who had tried drugs, 62% were less than 22 years old, had middle toupper schooling and generally had a job. 73% did not talk to their parents aboutthemselves or their problems. Only 10% declared it was an effort to go on living andthat they had sometimes thought of suicide. But the majority of the young people saidthey wanted to live (70%), that there was solidarity in their family (40%), felt satisfiedwith their studies and work (59%), and enjoyed being in company (71%). In theconclusion to his work, the author stated “the defiant behaviour, the search for148