Producing both stimulant and psychedelic effects, MDMA is often used at parties because it enables party-goers to dance and remain active for long periods of time. This substance is usually ingested in tablet form, but can also be crushed and snorted, injected, or used in suppository form.
The tasteless and odorless Depressants Rohypnol and GHB are often used in the commission of sexual assaults due to their ability to sedate and intoxicate unsuspecting victims. Rohypnol, a sedative/tranquilizer, is legally available for prescription in over 50 countries outside of the U.S. and is widely available in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe. Although usually taken orally in pill form, reports have shown that some users grind Rohypnol into a powder and snort the drug. GHB, available in an odorless, colorless liquid form or as a white powder material, is taken orally, and is frequently combined with alcohol. In addition to being used to incapacitate individuals for the commission of sexual assault/rape, GHB is also sometimes used by body builders for its alleged anabolic effects.4
The abuse of ketamine, a tranquilizer most often used on animals, became popular in the 1980s, when it was realized that large doses cause reactions similar to those associated with the use of PCP, such as dream-like states and hallucinations. The liquid form of ketamine can be injected, consumed in drinks, or added to smokable materials. The powder form can also be added to drinks, smoked, or dissolved and then injected.6 In some cases, ketamine is being injected intramuscularly.
Extent of Use:
According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.9 million Americans aged 12 or older tried MDMA at least once in their lifetimes, representing 4.6% of the U.S. population in that age group. The number of past year MDMA users in 2003 was 2.1 million (0.9% of the population aged 12 and older) and the number of past month MDMA users was 470,000 (0.2%). The past year and past month figures are down from 2002 when approximately 3.2 million (1.3% of the population aged 12 and older) reported past year MDMA use and 676,000 (0.3%) reported past month MDMA use.8 Among 12–17 year olds surveyed in 2003, 2.4% reported lifetime MDMA use, 1.3% reported past year MDMA use, and 0.4% reported past month MDMA use. Among 18–25 year olds surveyed in 2003, 14.8% reported lifetime MDMA use, 3.7% reported past year MDMA use, and 0.7% reported past month MDMA use.9
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveys high school students on several risk factors including Drug and alcohol use. For the first time in 2003, the YRBSS collected data on lifetime use of MDMA. Results of the 2003 survey indicate that 11.1% of high school students reported using MDMA at some point in their lifetimes (11.6% of male students and 10.4% of female students). The 2003 lifetime MDMA figures broken down by grade are as follows: 10.9% for 9th graders, 9.0% for 10th graders, 11.4% for 11th graders, and 12.8% for 12th graders.10 According to students surveyed as part of the 2004 Monitoring the Future study, 2.8% of eighth graders, 4.3% of tenth graders, and 7.5% of twelfth graders reported using MDMA at least once during their lifetimes.
