Adolescent patients with both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) reported more frequent past-year use of MDMA (ecstasy) than those with SUD alone or with traumatic experiences but no current PTSD. No such differences appeared for tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, or stimulants. The link between PTSD and higher MDMA use was partly explained by using the drug to cope with mental health symptoms. This suggests a specific coping mechanism for MDMA, possibly due to its unique psychoactive effects, rather than a general pattern of self-medication across all substances.
Psychedelics are being studied as potential treatments for psychological disorders, but their recreational use is also increasing. This chapter reviews the acute, subacute, and long-term neuropsychological effects of psychedelics. Under the influence, attention and working memory are reduced, which can be risky in high-risk environments like driving. These impairments typically resolve the next day, though some executive functioning deficits may persist up to 24 hours. Repeated use does not appear to cause lasting neuropsychological harm, but more research is needed on different substances and chronic use patterns.