Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

At the round table of social Analysis, four communications were presented in whichthe objective was to try to achieve an explanation and description of the characteristicsof our society that could be behind the consumption of stimulating drugs such asdesigner drugs.As for the social representations that these texts convey, we actually feel that theyrefute the stereotypes about designer drugs that define them as innocuous, nondangerous,and making communication and sex, etc easier. The growing demand forassistance and the need for programs of risk prevention indicate the contrary: thatdesigner drugs may constitute a serious problem for those who consume them.LITERATURE OF OPINION: REPORTS ON MAGAZINES AND THE PRESS1. MagazinesThere are two lines, those that are critical and transmit anxiety with respect to theconsumption of ecstasy, and those that consider the phenomenon of drugs in terms ofnormality, accepting the reality of its consumption and in some ways inviting people totry it. This is the case of the magazine Integral (Fericgla,1994) with the article “Fromdesigner drugs to the rites of always” and of the magazine Primera Línea (Agulló,1997)with “¿Do you really know what you are taking?”Referring to the effects mentioned in Integral it says :”the effect of ecstasy is verycontrollable, in the sense that the outset of the psychoactive effect of the MDMA isperceived sensibly, it produces a pleasant tickling sensation throughout the body and itis very easy to learn to manage it therefore becoming an experienced MDMA consumerat the third ingestion” or “the effects of ecstasy are very neat, very well achieved, do notproduce visionary effects in the immense majority of cases and in normal doses, as theones that circulate on the black market”. This report maintained the idea that at least theconsumption of ecstasy does not mix with alcohol, and that if it continues along thisline this drug will substitute alcohol “Strangely enough, alcohol is consumed indiscotheques where ecstasy is found, although seeing that it provokes dryness of themouth, as all types of amphetamines, it favours the consumption of abundant liquid”.In the report of Primera Línea, reference is made to the changes in drugconsumption, the appearance of new drugs that are substituting the classic ones inpopularity “Until now the classic drugs, but this eclectic and furious decade has seenhow a lot of new substances have been recycled, have emerged or have been invented,and this clearly indicates what is going to be the “high” of the next century: far out....Itis the newest way of getting high” It gives a list of these new substances, indicating howto take them and their effects, but does not include side effects. It ends with an interviewwith Antonio Escohotado.Therefore in these magazines they maintain the stereotype of a clean, controllable,modern and reasonably-priced drug, and of controlled consumers and monoconsumers.176