Prospective associations between meth/amphetamine (speed) and MDMA (ecstasy) use and depressive symptoms in secondary school students
Article [Author's Original]
Is part of
Journal of epidemiology and community health ; vol. 66, no. 11, pp. 990-994.Keywords
Abstract(s)
Background Research has raised significant
concern regarding the affective consequences of
synthetic drug use. However, little evidence from
well-controlled longitudinal studies exists on these
consequences. The aim of this study was to determine
whether use of meth/amphetamine (speed) and 63,4-
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is
independently predictive of subsequent depressive
symptoms in adolescents.
Methods A sample of 3880 adolescents from secondary
schools in disadvantaged areas of Quebec, Canada, were
followed over time (2003e2008). Logistic regression was used to test the association between meth/
amphetamine and MDMA use in grade 10 (ages
15e16 years) and elevated depressive symptoms on an
abridged Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression
scale in grade 11, controlling for pre-existing individual
and contextual characteristics.
Results After adjustment, both MDMA use (OR 1.7,
95% CI 1.1 to 2.6) and meth/amphetamine use (OR 1.6,
95% CI 1.1 to 2.3) in grade 10 significantly increased the
odds of elevated depressive symptoms in grade 11.
These relationships did not vary by gender or pre-existing
depressive symptoms. Increased risk was particularly
observed in concurrent usage (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to
2.9).
Conclusions Adolescent use of meth/amphetamine and
MDMA (particularly concurrent use) is independently
associated with subsequent depressive symptoms.
Further enquiry must determine whether these
associations reflect drug-induced neurotoxicity and
whether adolescence is a period of increased
vulnerability to the hazards of synthetic drug exposure.
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