Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

2. Press articles regarding ecstasyOf the press articles collected, the majority are about police operations and twoabout health, although one of the latter appears in the society sectionThe oldest article is of the year 1.994, and in it is discussed a judgement that raiseda controversy as ecstasy was considered as a soft drug not harmful to health. Asrepresentative of the favourable position to ecstasy, the name of Alexander Shulgin ismentioned. On the opponents’ side, basically we find the authorities and British media.On the bottom of the same page, there appears an interview with Alexander Shulgin,in which he defends ecstasy as an “effective and benign drug” and recommends it fortherapeutic use.In the articles about police operations, the increase of ecstasy confiscation isemphasised, which concludes that the consumption of these drugs is on the rise.The articles about health raise the subject of the negative effects: “malignanthyperthermic syndrome”, “hepatitis by ecstasy” and toxicity, and the contents of thepills (with each new confiscation, the pills are more blended).Once again the issues of new forms of consumption and new substances, appearalthough in none does there appear the consumer of ecstasy alone. With reference tothese new patterns, it is worthwhile to point out the following quote:“With the information that we have available at the present time, the termdependence is not acceptable for the amphetaminic drugs” assured yesterday Luis Sanz,investigator of the health complex Benito Menni...”they present other types of problemsrelated to their toxicity such as accidents and the organic effects” (El País, 1997)In conclusion, it appears that drugs occupy an important place in the crime sectionsof newspapers and in the courthouses more than in health, The amount of articles isminimum compared with the magnitude of the phenomenon, and in general, especiallyin the last articles, the image of ecstasy is negative, although in the interviews with“experts” they recommend caution, since the results of these new forms of consumptionand the effects of these new substances are as of yet unknown.CAMPAIGNS FOR PREVENTION: MATERIALS“Attention: Pills”, material for a secondary prevention campaign, addressed toecstasy consumers, it is recommended not to consume them, but in the event that thereis consumption, information and advice are given about its use. It is therefore in the lineof reduction of risks.“Ecstasy, the drug with an angel’s body and a devil’s soul”, an informative bookletabout the dangers of ecstasy; it contains two questionnaires, one addressed to parents,to detect the consumption by their children, and another one addressed to the youthsthemselves to make them reflect on their own consumption. It does not contain adviceabout its use, it only warns about the dangers and advises non-consumption.178