International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
January 19, 2023
Koen Ponnet, Bert Hauspie, Nicky Dirkx et al.
21 citations
Attendees of electronic dance music events are a high-risk group for substance use. A survey of 1345 Belgian attendees found that ecstasy/MDMA/Molly (52.28%), other synthetic hallucinogens (53.68%), ketamine (42.13%), amphetamines (40.45%), and alkyl nitrites (32.76%) were most used at festivals, outdoor parties, and raves. Cocaine was prevalent in nightclubs (32.29%), while cannabis (68.88%) and magic mushrooms (66.44%) were most used at private events. Overall enjoyment was the key motive for attendance, followed by music and socialization. Users rated many motives (dance, exploration, escapism, excitement, alcohol, drugs) as more important than non-users. Substance use prevalence depended on the event setting, and a three-dimensional classification of attendance motives was supported.
European addiction research
January 1, 2024
Ruben Johannes Jacob Van Beek, Matthijs Blankers, Marloes Kleinjan et al.
3 citations
Young adults who use ecstasy in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands show three similar patterns of polydrug use: traditional polydrug use (UK 28%, NL 40%), stimulant and ketamine use (UK 48%, NL 52%), and extensive polydrug use involving stimulants, depressants, and psychedelics (UK 24%, NL 8%). UK users more often consume MDMA as powder/crystalline at higher doses, while Dutch users prefer tablets. Most respondents in both countries intend to reduce but not quit their use. The patterns are structurally similar across countries, though individual substance frequencies and preferred MDMA form differ.
Drug and alcohol dependence
September 12, 2025
Matthijs Blankers, Ruben Van Beek, Desirée Spronk et al.
1 citation
In the three days after using ecstasy/MDMA, young adults who regularly use the drug report a small but significant drop in mental well-being, even after accounting for other substance use, sleep, and baseline depression or anxiety. Cocaine co-use and poor sleep further worsened the effect. No similar drop was seen after use of other common substances. The findings suggest the post-acute mood decline is specifically linked to ecstasy/MDMA, not just party or lifestyle factors.