Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

Empresarios de Hostelería y Ambientación Musical (Barna Ocio). The informationwhich we have on this campaign is limited to the material which was utilised, and ashort telephone conversation with one of those responsible for it. This campaign wasaimed at young people in drug use risk situations and to users who went to the nightlifeestablishments in the city of Barcelona.The material comprised a not very attractive leaflet, which was distributed in thenight establishments in Barcelona with the cooperation of Barna Ocio. The coverfeatured the name of the campaign ‘Tu eliges? Drogas de sintesis?’. Inside, in this order,was information on the effects of designer drugs on the central nervous system(stimulation, hallucinations and euphoria) and a warning of the risks associated withuse, such as flushing, sweating, palpitations, panic, paranoias, etc. It also containedinformation on other types of risk such as the adulteration of the tablets, of not knowingwhat was being taken, possible problems with the law if they were Anicked” selling andbuying, etc. It went on to tell the readers that even if, once aware of these dangers, theystill decided to use these substances, then they should take the precaution of followingcertain preventive measures, among them not mixing substances with alcohol or otherdrugs, resting, drinking water, etc. No evaluation was made of the results.2) In the same year, 1996, and also in Catalonia, the Òrgan Tècnic deDrogodependències of the Department of Health and Social Security of the Generalitatde Catalunya (1996) carried out a prevention campaign on ecstasy and other syntheticdrugs use. This campaign (Intervenció per a la prevenció del consum d’éxtasis i delsseus riscos associats) was aimed at young users or potential users of synthetic drugs inrecreational environments linked to the máquina style.Cards were used, with a design reminiscent of the psychedelic, with attractivecolours and distorted figures. These cards were small in size with the design on one sideand the dangers of use, particularly flushing, on the other. Its objective was to persuadethe young not to use drugs. Like the material used in the Barcelona City Councilcampaign, it included preventive measures to reduce the harm involved in use, in theevent that, although aware of the dangers, they decided to use drugs.The material was distributed in more than 70 locales in 32 municipalities throughoutCatalonia (with the exception of Barcelona). Subsequently, there was an evaluation withquestionnaires in 11 of the municipalities. According to the instigators, the results werefavourable to the campaign in that almost half of those questioned remembered thecards, and it was demonstrated that those who knew of them were better informed onthe dangers of ecstasy use than those who did not.3) The Asociación Proyecto Hogar de Barcelona (Ureña and Serra, 1996) carried outan informative campaign on synthetic drugs, targeting young people. Its objectives wereto provide information on synthetic drugs, their effects and dangers, prevent use of thistype of substance and, finally, reduce the dangers of their use by means of adequateinformation.199