Cannabis and MDMA abuse Continues to Incline Among Adoelescents

Abstract

Objective:

The substance cannabis and 3,4-methylendioxiymethamphetamine MDMA (Ecstasy) is a popular recreational stimulant commonly referred to as “club drugs”. They produce maladaptive behavioral or psychological changes. Last evidence from World Health Organization indicates increasing route for MDMA abuse in new generation.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the specific groups of patients and to make the distinction between generations and model of substance abuse.

Methods:

The retrospective study includes patients treated in Special Hospital on Addictions in Belgrade diagnosed by any set of criteria during the period of last 15 years. Authors investigated early onset and frequency of MDMA and cannabis abuse patients regard to different age.

Results:

Total of 400 patients was separated to four different groups- main ages 40, 30, 20 and 18 years old.

Significant positive correlation was found between youngest patients and there first contact (14, 5 year old) with club drugs. Frequency and duration period of addiction were 1,6 year. In a contrarily, in older group (40 and 30) we found later consummation of cannabis 19,2 and 23,5 year old for MDMA. Also we notice irregular pattern of club drugs abuse and short period of intensive consumption 2,7 month.

Conclusion:

Our data suggests that distribution of cannabis and ecstasy abuse between adolescents spreads. These results indicate that chronic and frequent drug use may lead to distinct patterns of cognitive impairment in youngest patients and may be getaway drugs for latter heroin abuse.