Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

de Zwart, W.M., H. Stam, S.B.M. Kuipers (1997). Kerngegevens. Roken, drinken,drugsgebruik en gokken onder scholieren vanaf 10 jaar. Utrecht: Trimbosinstituut.z.a. (1992). Kamer wil einde aan houseparty’s. Telegraaf, 27 februari.z.a. (1996). Helft XTC is onzuiver. Utrechts Nieuwsblad, 13 juli.z.a. (1997). ‘Houseparty in Thialf verbieden’. Leeuwardse Courant, 27 sept.8.4.4. Results of the documentary research in PortugalEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIESThere is little information concerning the situation of use of ecstasy in Portugal.However we call special attention to two studies on this subject done in the last 2 years(1995 to 1997):1) A group of students of the “Universidade Nova de Lisboa”, who were studyingPublic Health in “Faculdade de Ciencias Sociais e Humanas”, made a research with asample of 455 youngsters between 15 and 25 years old (1995).This work aimed to evaluate how much Portuguese Students between 18 and 25knew about ecstasy, their opinion about it and if they had used it. So, the objectives wereto know about:• How much people knew about that drug, its effects, tolerance, how to use it andthe risks associated with its consumption.The opinions people have about theconsumption of Ecstasy.• To evaluate its consumption we want to study the prevalence of consumers in thestudied group, their characterisation, places, they buy it or use it and the price ofEcstasy, its frequency of consumption and probable association with other drugs.Results and conclusions:–Although most of the inquired had already heard about this drug, its effects andhow to use it, only a small percentage knew about its evil effects.–Potential consumers also have no knowledge of the risks associated withconsumption. So we fear a rise of consumption with an evolution to internationallevels.–It is urgent to intervene with informative and pedagogical action among youngstersin order to alert them for the risks of Ecstasy.–In our population universe we obtained a prevalence of 5,3% of consumption. Theplaces where it is mostly used (discos, bars) have to do with the effects people wantto have with its consumption.–The profile of our consumer is a male youngster between 22 and 25 years of agewho buys Ecstasy in discos or through friends, who knows nothing about the risksinvolved and pays between 5.000$00 and 7.500$00 for a doses using it usually inassociation with other drugs.171