Abstract
Objective: Ecstasy is one of the most commonly used illicit substances in Western countries. The aim of this study is to identify characteristics of ecstasy users in a large population-based sample of adults aged 18–45 years. Method: With generalized estimating equation models we explored the association between self-reported lifetime ecstasy use and urbanicity, educational attainment, health, wellbeing, stress, other substance use, personality traits and psychopathology in a Dutch twin sample (N = 9578, 66.8% female, 18–45 years). We also explored the nature of the association (underlying genetic factors, shared environmental factors or a causal relationship) with the co-twin control method. Results: Lifetime ecstasy users (N = 945, 9.9%) were more often male, younger, living more often in urban areas, higher educated, less satisfied with life and more stressed than non-users. Ecstasy users scored differently on most personality and psychopathology scales compared to non-users and were more likely to have used every other substance we investigated. Whereas smoking tobacco and alcohol use often preceded first use of ecstasy, first ecstasy use often preceded first use of other illicit substances. A combination of scenarios (both causal and environmental/genetic) explained the strong associations between ecstasy and substance use. Conclusions: Ecstasy users differ on many characteristics from non-users, and especially on illicit substance use. Our results indicate that causal effects may play a role in explaining the relationship between ecstasy use and other illicit substance use.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 106421 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Addictive Behaviors |
Volume | 108 |
Early online date | 28 Mar 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2020 |
Funding
We warmly thank the Netherlands Twin Register participants whose data we analysed in this study. KJHV is supported in part by a 2014 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. JMV, JLT, and the data collection of the 2013–2014 survey of the NTR are supported by ERC Starting Grant ‘Beyond the Genetics of Addiction’, grant number 284167 (PI: JMV). DIB acknowledges the KNAW Academy Professor Award (PAH/6635). Data collection and zygosity typing was also supported by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research [NWO-MagW 480-04-004; Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-NL)] and the Avera Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (USA). We warmly thank the Netherlands Twin Register participants whose data we analysed in this study. KJHV is supported in part by a 2014 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. JMV, JLT, and the data collection of the 2013?2014 survey of the NTR are supported by ERC Starting Grant ?Beyond the Genetics of Addiction?, grant number 284167 (PI: JMV). DIB acknowledges the KNAW Academy Professor Award (PAH/6635). Data collection and zygosity typing was also supported by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research [NWO-MagW 480-04-004; Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-NL)] and the Avera Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (USA).
Funders | Funder number |
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Avera Institute | |
BBMRI-NL | |
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research | |
Netherlands Twin Register | |
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation | |
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression | |
European Research Council | 284167 |
Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen | PAH/6635 |
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek | NWO-MagW 480-04-004 |
Cohort Studies
- Netherlands Twin Register (NTR)