Increasing Use of “Ecstasy“ (MDMA) and other Hallucinogens on a College Campus
Journal of American College Health – May 01, 1994
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A 1990 survey of a university student population revealed a significant shift in illicit drug use patterns. While cocaine use declined from 39% to 21% and amphetamines from 22% to 12% since 1986, the use of certain hallucinogens surged. Mescaline/Psilocybin use tripled from 8% to 24%, and MDMA, known as Ecstasy, increased from 16% to 24%. Lysergic acid diethylamide use remained stable. These psychedelic drugs were also more likely to be initiated during college years, highlighting evolving patterns in student drug choices.
Abstract
We conducted a random survey of illicit drug use by undergraduate students at a private southern university in 1990 and compared the results with results from a similar 1986 survey of that college's student population. During the 4 years since the first study, the prevalence of cocaine use declined from 39% to 21%, and use of traditional amphetamines declined from 22% to 12%. No significant differences were found in the use of marijuana--68% in 1986, 64% in 1990--or in use of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)--14% in 1986, 17% in 1990. The use of mescaline/psilocybin increased from 8% to 24% and the use of MDMA, known as "Ecstasy" (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), increased from 16% to 24%. Mescaline/psilocybin and Ecstasy were more likely than the other drugs to have been used first during the students' college years, according to the 1990 study.