ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF STIMULANT-DRUGS IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE OF DRUG-USERS

A sample of drug users (n = 158) were contacted and interviewed in non -clinical community settings about their use of Ecstasy, cocaine powde r, and amphetamines and the adverse effects of these drugs. Subjects r eported a wide range of adverse effects including anxiety problems, de pression, mood swings, feelings of paranoia, and panic attacks. Sleep and appetite disturbances were the most commonly reported problems. Ab out half of all subjects reported depression and paranoid feelings ass ociated with their stimulant use. Many of those reporting problems sta ted that these were mild. However, for all drugs, a substantial minori ty of users reported adverse effects which they rated as 'severe'. Bet ween 30 and 55% of the sample reported having had at least one 'severe ' adverse effect (30% cocaine, 35% Ecstasy and 55% amphetamine). There were clear differences between the different drugs in the likelihood and reported severity of adverse effects. Amphetamine use was associat ed with significantly more adverse effects and with more severe advers e effects than Ecstasy or cocaine. Cocaine powder was associated with the least severe adverse effects. A common pattern of drug use involve d the use of depressant drugs such as opiates and benzodiazepines in a ddition to stimulants. The stimulant and depressant users were more li kely than the stimulants-only users to use stimulants by injection and more likely to report adverse effects associated with stimulant use. The stimulant and depressant users were also more likely to have been treated for a drug problem. Approximately a quarter of the sample stat ed that they had stopped using stimulants up to the point of interview as a result of their bad experiences. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd.