Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

GLOBAL SAMPLE ANSWERSThe most popular reasons for the ecstasy use are to dance (adding the twopossibilities “Enjoy dancing” and “ Dance longer”) with percentages between 21,6%(Modena) and 32,2% (Coimbra), “Escape from reality” with percentages between 9,9%in Coimbra and 23,8% in Modena, “ Feel good” frequently between 7,3% in Nice and22,4% in Utrecht and “Stimulate senses” with frequencies between 9,5% (Utrecht) and16,1% (Modena). We notice that dancing is one of the most chosen answers, above allamong C, as we will see later on.The other 4 causes collected in the questionnaire are not often chosen. An importantexception is the answer “To Relax” which is chosen by 14,1% of the Dutch sample. Oneof the answers not selected frequently by the people was to take ecstasy “to have bettersexual relationships”. Nevertheless, in an other part of the questionnaire –the socialrepresentation scale- the youngsters are interrogated again on this subject and it seemsthat this time they demonstrate more interest for the relation of sexuality and XTC. Infact 33,8% of the sample of NC and 45,1% of C do agree that ecstasy disinhibitssexually.ANSWERS ACCORDING TO BEING OR NOT ECSTASY USER (C AND NC)“Escape from reality” is interestingly the most chosen answer by NC and the onethat shows the greatest differences between both groups. In the case of Utrecht, thesedifferences range from 22,6% (NC) to 6,3% (C), a similar distance to the one found inthe sample of Coimbra with 18,3% (NC) and 6,4% (C). We consider this is aconsequence of the different social representation of MDMA between NC and C in asimilar way of what was shown in the last table in relation of different reasons whyecstasy produce problems.The relationship of the dance with this drug is often mentioned. Certainly, if weselect group C, the two possible answers connected with dancing are the most chosen.These percentages are between 32,5% in Nice and 21,7% in Utrecht. Nevertheless,these data must show us that, from the point of view of prevention, the associationecstasy-dance is important but not exclusive, since young people also associate ecstasyto other problems.Continuing with the dance topic, it is interesting to emphasise the differences foundbetween NC and C, according to the two questions connected with this matter. The NCgroup associates ecstasy above all with “Dance longer”, while C with “Enjoy dancing”.THE FOLLOWING TABLES HAVE BEEN ANSWERED EXCLUSIVELY BY ECSTASY USERS OFEACH CITY AND BOTH THE DISCO SAMPLE AND THE UNIVERSITY SAMPLE HAVE BEEN PUTINTO ACCOUNT TOGETHER.66