Ecstasy (MDMA) use has increased sharply among youth in both the US and worldwide. Although the medical literature is replete with studies documenting serious physical consequences associated with ecstasy, little is known about the natural history of ecstasy use and its effects on behavior and mental health. The goal of the proposed research is to contribute critically needed epidemiologic information about the risk factors for becoming an ecstasy user, the patterns of ecstasy use, and its longer-term consequences. The study will also have broader implications for the description and prediction of illicit drug use patterns in general among college students. A longitudinal prospective study of a large sample of college students at the University of Maryland, College Park, a major public University with a diverse student body, will be conducted. The three specific aims of the project are to: 1) identify the predictors of onset of ecstasy use; 2) characterize ecstasy use patterns and develop models to better understand changes in ecstasy use; and 3) describe and predict the consequences of ecstasy use, among college students. A two-stage procedure will be used to recruit students into the study. First, a screening instrument will be administered to all incoming freshman via cooperation with the University's Orientation Office. Second, based on information from the screening, we will recruit 18-19 year old students who fall into three groups and will be eligible for longitudinal follow-up: 1) A """"""""high-risk sample"""""""" of non-users of ecstasy at baseline who have used marijuana (Specific Aim# 1); 2) """"""""Prevalent"""""""" cases, ecstasy users at baseline, who, in conjunction with incident ecstasy users from Specific Aim# 1 will comprise the sample to study ecstasy use patterns (Specific Aim# 2), and, 3) A """"""""low-risk"""""""" sample of non-users of both marijuana and ecstasy at baseline, primarily for comparative purposes for Specific Aim # 3. These students will be assessed annually for three years with a face-to-face interview and semi-annually with mail-in questionnaires. Risk factors that are hypothesized to be related to the initiation of ecstasy use and changes in the pattern of use include family factors (e.g. family history and quality of relationships), social influences (e.g., peer influences, attendance at """"""""raves""""""""), personal characteristics (i.e., behavioral dysreguhtion/sensation-seeking), contextual variables and drug use history. The classes of consequences to be studied in the sample over time are: 1) alcohol and other drug dependence; 2) high risk sexual activity; 3) academic performance; and 4) mental health problems (i.e., anxiety and depression). This study will complement research about the neurobiological mechanisms of risks and consequences of ecstasy use, add to the existing body of knowledge on college drug use, and have important implications for the identification of persons at high risk for ecstasy use and those in need of prevention and early intervention services.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA014845-03
Application #
6899770
Study Section
Social Sciences, Nursing, Epidemiology and Methods 4 (SNEM)
Program Officer
Obrien, Moira
Project Start
2003-06-01
Project End
2008-05-31
Budget Start
2005-06-01
Budget End
2006-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$587,764
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742
Arria, Amelia M; Geisner, Irene M; Cimini, M Dolores et al. (2018) Perceived academic benefit is associated with nonmedical prescription stimulant use among college students. Addict Behav 76:27-33
Arria, Amelia M; Jernigan, David H (2018) Addressing College Drinking as a Statewide Public Health Problem: Key Findings From the Maryland Collaborative. Health Promot Pract 19:303-313
Ross, Melissa M; Arria, Amelia M; Brown, Jessica P et al. (2018) College students' perceived benefit-to-risk tradeoffs for nonmedical use of prescription stimulants: Implications for intervention designs. Addict Behav 79:45-51
Payne-Sturges, Devon C; Tjaden, Allison; Caldeira, Kimberly M et al. (2018) Student Hunger on Campus: Food Insecurity Among College Students and Implications for Academic Institutions. Am J Health Promot 32:349-354
Morioka, Christine K; Howard, Donna E; Caldeira, Kimberly M et al. (2018) Affective dysregulation predicts incident nonmedical prescription analgesic use among college students. Addict Behav 76:328-334
Caldeira, Kimberly M; Arria, Amelia M; Allen, Hannah K et al. (2017) Continuity of drunk and drugged driving behaviors four years post-college. Drug Alcohol Depend 180:332-339
Arria, Amelia M; Caldeira, Kimberly M; Vincent, Kathryn B et al. (2017) Do college students improve their grades by using prescription stimulants nonmedically? Addict Behav 65:245-249
Arria, Amelia M; Caldeira, Kimberly M; Bugbee, Brittany A et al. (2017) Trajectories of energy drink consumption and subsequent drug use during young adulthood. Drug Alcohol Depend 179:424-432
Allen, Hannah K; Caldeira, Kimberly M; Bugbee, Brittany A et al. (2017) Drug involvement during and after college: Estimates of opportunity and use given opportunity. Drug Alcohol Depend 174:150-157
Caldeira, Kimberly M; Arria, Amelia M; O'Grady, Kevin E et al. (2017) Risk factors for gambling and substance use among recent college students. Drug Alcohol Depend 179:280-290

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