Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

Even so it is possible to make a division of the articles by scientific disciplines:–Social sciences (sociology, anthropology, history)–Bio-Medical Sciences (pharmacology, psychiatry, medicine, epidemiology)In general the articles revolve around the following topics:♦ Discussed is the stereotype of designer drugs as being innocuous, safe drugs,related to the modernism and fashion design, and hence its name. Even mentionedin an article is the need to deny the idea maintained by some psychologists andpsychiatrists that it has beneficial psychic effects.♦ In the majority of the articles there is a common line of the deconstruction of thestereotype of the designer drugs as innocuous, clean, that do not createdependency and without negative effects, as of consumers of these as week-endmonoconsumers, controlled and aware of what they are consuming. It is a druglinked to the return of the psychedelic fashion of the 60’s “Sun Flowers”, but byindividuals integrated in the materialistic society and without vindicativeconnotations. “They create and search for a new made-to-order psychodelia,which does not compromise with any revolution, but which lifts the youth fromhis monotony and resolves his search for himself. It helps them fictitiously to feelfree, autonomous, finally, adults without ceasing to be adolescents, anadolescence that on occasion borders on thirty years of age (Orellana,1996)”♦ A drug linked to new ways of spending free time, recreational consumption, forthe week end.♦ A drug adapted to the frantic life style, of absolute exploitation of time, as itallows one to put up with a whole week-end of continuous partying, resultingtherefore in passing from the consumption of sedatives to stimulants.♦ A Drug linked to sociability, to one’s group of friends.♦ Ecstasy participates in the consideration of the youth as a consumer, whether it bejeans, soft drinks or cars,.... And hence the colours, designs, etc.♦ Rejection of “hard” drugs, especially heroin, linked to marginality and infectiousdiseases (AIDS).♦ Discussion about the denomination of these drugs, rejection of the term ”designerdrugs” as it has positive connotations, and preference for the term “syntheticdrugs”, which refers to its production.♦ In the articles about pharmacology and medicine, the principal matter is that ofits toxicity. The common opinion is that on a short term basis and in the case ofmoderate consumption, it is not a dangerous drug, but on a long term basis, anddepending on the amount, it may lead to neurophysiological problems.♦ The legal issues are the least frequent, but there are two positions defined withrespect to the legal situation of ecstasy: one being that to include designer drugson list I of the DEA is exaggerated, and that this fact has impelled drug traffic andconsumption, increasing risks as it has given cause for adulteration of the pills.And there is a second position that is totally in favour of this measure as itconsiders the designer drugs as a real danger in the near future.174