Prevalence and Sociocultural Patterns of Ecstasy Consumption

This paper consists in a bibliographic analysis on the prevalence and sociocultural patterns of ecstasy consumption worldwide and, specifically, in Brazil. The abuse rates of ecstasy are increasing globally, so this article tries to determinate the users’ profiles, which have been established in recent years. Analysis’ content is presented by the following topics: 1) the history of ecstasy consumption; 2) its pharmacological and clinical features; 3) the sociocultural pattern of ecstasy use and its prevalence worldwide and in Brazil. Results show that ecstasy is consumed especially in party settings and nightclubs, by young single men, belonging to middle and high-classes. It is associated with a culture that values pleasure, freedom, youth, perceived as not dangerous. The substance, however, is not innocuous. It has dependence potential and the associated long-term physical and cognitive impairments are not fully known.