The Prevalence, Intensity, and Assessment of Craving for MDMA/Ecstasy in Recreational Users

Bibliographic Data

ID13914036
AuthorsA K Davis (0000-0003-4770-8893, Bowling Green State University, corresponding author), Harold Rosenberg (0000-0001-7853-2136, Bowling Green State University)
Year2014
Volume46
Issue2
Pages154-161
Publication date2014-03-15
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychoactive Drugs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0279-1072 • E-ISSN: 2159-9777
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02791072.2014.901586
PMID25052792
OpenAlexW2103220243
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited27

This study evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and correlates of craving for MDMA/ecstasy among recreational users employing a new multi-item, self-report questionnaire reflecting experiences of desire, intention to use, and anticipated loss of control. Using a web-based data collection procedure, we recruited MDMA/ecstasy users (n = 240) to rate their agreement with eight craving statements immediately before and immediately following 90 seconds of exposure to either ecstasy-related or control stimuli. Participants then completed questionnaires to measure ecstasy refusal self-efficacy, passionate engagement in ecstasy use, substance use history, and demographic information. Fifty percent of participants indicated some level of agreement with at least two (out of eight) statements indicative of craving and 30% agreed at some level with six or more such statements. The questionnaire used to assess craving was internally consistent, unidimensional, and had excellent one-week test-retest reliability. Craving scores varied as a function of both cue exposure and frequency of ecstasy use, and were significantly associated with ecstasy-related attitudes. Recreational users of MDMA/ecstasy endorse some experiences indicative of craving for this drug, even though only a minority report intense craving following explicit cue exposure

Addiction · Craving · Drug · Ecstasy · MDMA · Psychiatry · Recreation · Recreational drug use · Recreational use · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Clinical Psychology · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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