![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Club drug use, MDMA in particular, appeared as a growing problem in the Seattle area in the late 1990s. To understand more about the patterns of MDMA use and to evaluate the current state of MDMA use, multiple data sources were examined. The seven data sources utilized included local community-based club drug surveys collected in 2003 at raves, treatment agencies, and gay-oriented bars and sex clubs; school surveys (collected in 2002); mortality data (deaths between 2000 and 2002); data from the sexually transmitted disease clinic (October 2002 to October 2003); focus groups (2003) with men who have sex with men; emergency department drug mentions (1995 to 2002); and drug treatment admissions (1999 to 2003). Taken together, these data indicate moderate levels of MDMA use and relatively low levels of mortality and acute morbidity. However, there are several areas of concern including possible mental health effects and high levels of suspected adulteration of MDMA. Some data point to a relationship between MDMA use and risky behaviors including unprotected sex. Implications for prevention, intervention, and treatment are discussed.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Caleb Banta-Green
Caleb Banta-Green is a research scientist at the University of Washington's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute. His work involves applying epidemiological research methods to drug abuse trends in urban and rural areas throughout Washington State. He has been the Seattle area representative to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Community Epidemiology Work Group since 2001.
Gary Goldbaum
Gary Goldbaum is Senior Medical Epidemiologist for Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) and Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Services and Family Medicine at the University of Washington (UW). He has conducted research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services in Olympia, Washington, and at PHSKC in Seattle, Washington. He has been Health Officer for two Washington Counties, was Medical Director for the PHSKC HIV/AIDS Prevention Program from 1989 to 1999, and directed the UW Preventive Medicine Residency from 1992 to 2002.
Susan Kingston
Susan Kingstonis an Educator Consultant with the Drug Use and HIV Prevention Team at Public Health-Seattle and King County. She specializes in the intersecting issues of injection drug use, HIV prevention, and substance use among men who have sex with men and is a local expert on methamphetamine.
Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, and is the Medical Director of the Public Health- Seattle & King County STD Clinic. His research interests include STD in MSM, partner notification, and public health interventions to control STD/HIV.
Richard Harruff
Richard Harruff is board certified in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. He has been a Medical Examiner in King County Medical Examiner's Office since 1993, and the Chief Medical Examiner since 2000.
Barry K. Logan
Barry Logan is Director of the Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, and State Toxicologist for the State of Washington. He has over 70 publications in the field of forensic toxicology and drug analysis. He is board certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, and serves on their Board of Directors. He continues to conduct and publish research in areas including drug use and driving impairment, and postmortem toxicology.