Increases in the use of drug testing kits among nightclub and festival attendees in New York City who use ecstasy, 2017-2022.

Among adults entering randomly selected electronic dance music events in New York City, the proportion who had tested their ecstasy with a drug testing kit in the past year rose from 23.1% in 2017 to 43.1% in 2022, an 86.6% increase. Among those who tested, the share who always tested their drug rose from 31.2% to 60.6%. The proportion who found out or suspected their ecstasy was adulterated fell from 59.6% to 18.4%, with suspected methamphetamine adulteration dropping from 21.9% to 3.6%. The findings indicate growing use of drug testing kits and decreasing suspected adulteration, supporting the need for formal drug checking services.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) is a drug commonly used by people who attend electronic dance music (EDM) events at nightclubs and dance festivals. Drug checking has gained popularity in recent years to test for adulterants, but epidemiology studies are needed to estimate potential shifts in prevalence of drug checking to further inform harm reduction efforts. Adults entering randomly selected EDM events in New York City were surveyed in 2017 and 2022. Those reporting past-year ecstasy use were asked if they tested their ecstasy in the past year using a drug testing kit and whether they found out or suspected their ecstasy contained other drugs. We compared estimates between 2017 and 2022. In 2017, an estimated 23.1% had tested their ecstasy, and this estimate increased to 43.1% in 2022 (86.6% increase, p = 0.006). Among those who tested their ecstasy, in 2017, 31.2% always tested their drug, and this increased to 60.6% in 2022 (94.2% increase, p = 0.026). In 2017, 59.6% of those who tested their ecstasy reported finding out or suspecting their drug was adulterated, which decreased to 18.4% in 2022 (69.1% decrease, p < 0.001). Suspected methamphetamine adulteration in particular decreased, from 21.9% in 2017 to 3.6% in 2022 (83.6% decrease, p = 0.007). The use of drug testing kits has increased among EDM event attendees who use ecstasy and, at the same time, among those who had tested their ecstasy, suspected adulteration has decreased. Continued interest in understanding ecstasy contents among this population suggests the need for formal drug checking services.