Increasing Use of “Ecstasy“ (MDMA) and other Hallucinogens on a College Campus

Between 1986 and 1990, cocaine use among undergraduates at a private southern university dropped from 39% to 21%, and traditional amphetamine use fell from 22% to 12%. Marijuana use remained stable (68% to 64%), as did LSD use (14% to 17%). Mescaline or psilocybin use rose sharply from 8% to 24%, and MDMA (Ecstasy) use increased from 16% to 24%. Students in 1990 were more likely to have first tried mescaline/psilocybin and Ecstasy during their college years compared to other drugs.

Study at a glance

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.