Self-reported PTSD is associated with increased use of MDMA in adolescents with substance use disorders
European Journal of Psychotraumatology January 1, 2021 L. Basedow, Sören Kuitunen-Paul, M. Wiedmann et al. 15 citations
Adolescents with both a substance use disorder and probable post-traumatic stress disorder report more frequent use of MDMA (ecstasy) than those without PTSD, and they start using substances at a younger age. PTSD symptoms, especially avoidance, appear before first MDMA use, which begins on average 2.2 years after PTSD onset. The association between MDMA use and avoidance symptoms may reflect an attempt to reduce those symptoms or a consequence of regular MDMA use.