Shifts in Unintentional Exposure to Drugs Among People Who Use Ecstasy in the Electronic Dance Music Scene, 2016-2019.

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  • Author(s): Palamar JJ;Palamar JJ; Salomone A; Salomone A; Salomone A
  • Source:
    The American journal on addictions [Am J Addict] 2021 Jan; Vol. 30 (1), pp. 49-54. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jul 28.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9208821 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1521-0391 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10550496 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Addict Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Oxford : Wiley-Blackwell
      Original Publication: Washington, DC : American Psychiatric Press, c1992-
    • Subject Terms:
      Drug Contamination/*statistics & numerical data ; Illicit Drugs/*analysis ; Ketamine/*analysis ; Methamphetamine/*analysis ; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/*analysis ; Psychotropic Drugs/*analysis ; Substance-Related Disorders/*epidemiology; Adult ; Dancing ; Female ; Hair Analysis ; Harm Reduction ; Humans ; Intention ; Male ; Music ; Substance Abuse Detection ; Surveys and Questionnaires
    • Abstract:
      Background and Objectives: Electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees who use ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA], Molly) are at high risk for ingesting adulterant drugs, but little is known regarding trends in exposure. We sought to determine whether adulteration has shifted in recent years.
      Methods: Adults entering EDM events at nightclubs and dance festivals in NYC were surveyed in 2016 and 2019. We tested hair samples from a subsample of those reporting past-year ecstasy use using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Differences in unreported drug exposure and suspected adulteration were compared between 2016 (n = 90) and 2019 (n = 72).
      Results: MDMA detection was stable at 72-74%. We detected decreases in unreported use of methamphetamine (from 22.2% to 5.6% [P = .003], an 74.8% decrease), new psychoactive substances (from 31.1% to 2.8% [P < .001], a 91.0% decrease), and synthetic cathinones in particular (from 27.8% to 2.8% (P < .001, an 89.9% decrease). Unreported ketamine exposure increased from 18.9% to 34.7% (P = .022, an 83.6% increase). We also detected decreases in participants' suspicion of their ecstasy being adulterated with methamphetamine (from 20.0% to 5.6% [P = .010], an 72.0% decrease) and "bath salts" (synthetic cathinones, from 8.9% to 1.4% [P = .044], an 84.3% decrease).
      Discussion and Conclusions: Unknown exposure to adulterants among people who use ecstasy in the EDM scene is shifting. Monitoring of exposure to adulterants is needed to inform harm reduction.
      Scientific Significance: This was among the first studies to examine unintentional exposure to drugs over time in this population and unintentional exposure to synthetic cathinones in particular appears to be declining. (Am J Addict 2021;30:49-54).
      (© 2020 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.)
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    • Grant Information:
      K01 DA038800 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS; R01 DA044207 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS
    • Accession Number:
      0 (Illicit Drugs)
      0 (Psychotropic Drugs)
      44RAL3456C (Methamphetamine)
      690G0D6V8H (Ketamine)
      KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20200820 Date Completed: 20210628 Latest Revision: 20220102
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      PMC7772278
    • Accession Number:
      10.1111/ajad.13086
    • Accession Number:
      32813326