Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2002
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author:  Karen Patterson

ECSTASY USE MAY AFFECT APPROACH TO LONELINESS

CHICAGO - People who use the drug Ecstasy cope with loneliness differently 
than do people who use other drugs and people who don't use drugs, Canadian 
researchers report. Noting that substance abuse and loneliness tend to be 
linked - and that the drug MDMA, popularly known as Ecstasy, appears to 
lift users' moods and improve their sociability - researchers from York 
University in Toronto studied the issue in 818 people.

More than 100 reported being regular Ecstasy users; 88 used other 
substances (such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines or heroin); and 624 said 
they didn't use drugs. The people in the study also reflected on times they 
had been lonely and answered questions about coping strategies that most 
helped them. The questions focused on six areas: reflection and acceptance; 
self-development and understanding (such as receiving professional help); 
social support; distancing and denial of pain and loneliness; religion and 
faith; and increased activity.

Ecstasy users were more likely than the other groups to use all the coping 
strategies except reflection/acceptance and religion/faith, the researchers 
found. The general population had used these strategies more than either 
drug-using group.

The research was presented last week in Chicago at the annual meeting of 
the American Psychological Association.

Because Ecstasy seems to help young people adopt many of the coping 
techniques, such as being more sociable and more active, programs to 
counsel users of the drug may need to focus on loneliness, the researchers say.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex