@article{ref1,
title="Underreporting of ecstasy use among high school seniors in the US",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2016",
author="Palamar, Joseph J. and Keyes, Katherine and Cleland, Charles M.",
volume="165",
number="",
pages="279-282",
abstract="BACKGROUND: National surveys suggest ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) use has decreased substantially among adolescents in the US since 2001; however, the recent phenomenon of &quot;Molly&quot; (ecstasy marketed as &quot;pure MDMA&quot;) may be leading to underreporting of use as not all users are aware that &quot;Molly&quot; is a form of ecstasy. <br><br>METHODS: We examined 2014 data from Monitoring the Future, a nationally representative survey of high school seniors in the US (N=6250, modal age: 18). Three randomly distributed survey forms asked about ecstasy use, and one included &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition. Self-reported lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day ecstasy use were compared to determine whether including &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition was associated with higher prevalence or frequency of use. <br><br>RESULTS: The form including &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition had significantly higher prevalence than the two (combined) forms that did not. Lifetime use (8.0% vs. 5.5%) and 12-month use (5.1% vs. 3.6%) were significantly higher with &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition. Lifetime prevalence remained higher with &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition when controlling for correlates of ecstasy use; however, 12-month use did not. Differences in prevalence were associated with lifetime occasions of use, with lower concordance between forms at lower levels of lifetime occasions (e.g., 1-2 times). Survey form was not related to number of times used among more frequent users. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of ecstasy use appears to be underestimated when &quot;Molly&quot; is not included in the definition of ecstasy/MDMA. Surveys should include &quot;Molly&quot; in the definition of ecstasy to more adequately assess prevalence of use.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.06.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.06.001"
}