Discussing MDMA

Jarryd Bartle, Nicole Lee & Paula Ross

writer

Jarryd Bartle, Nicole Lee & Paula Ross

Sessional Lecturer, RMIT University | Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University | Sessional psychology lecturer, Australian Catholic University

We all want to reduce drug-related harm and ensure young people don’t take unnecessary risks. But decades of research shows fear isn’t an effective way to do this.

This week, Newscorp Australia released The Ripple Effect, a series of articles and accompanying videos about party drugs, aimed at parents of young people.

Rather than drawing on the science about reducing harm, the series overstates the nation’s drug problem and the likelihood of problems from taking MDMA (ecstasy). And it’s likely to scare the wits out of parents of teens.

So, what do parents really need to know about party drugs?

Most young people don’t use drugs

Illicit drug use among teens is low and has been in decline for nearly a decade.

Although Australians overall have a relatively high rate of MDMA use compared to similar countries, only a small proportion of teenagers (around 3%) and young adults (7%) have used MDMA in the last year. Among high school students, the overwhelming majority (94%) have never tried MDMA.

Normalising the idea that drug use isn’t that common is a key prevention strategy in drug education. If young people think “everyone” is using drugs, they are more likely to want to do it too.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Dr Gabby Mahoney

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Eczema Management Practical Tips

Prof Deborah Bateson AM

Prof Deborah Bateson AM

Oral Contraception Updates

Prof Genie Pedagogos, Prof Richard MacIsaac & A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Prof Genie Pedagogos, Prof Richard MacIsaac & A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Panel Discussion on GLP1s for Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Menopausal Hormone Therapy and its Cardiovascular Benefits

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Jarryd Bartle, Nicole Lee & Paula Ross

writer

Jarryd Bartle, Nicole Lee & Paula Ross

Sessional Lecturer, RMIT University | Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University | Sessional psychology lecturer, Australian Catholic University

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

In your perception, how has Donald Trump's election to the US and related political discourse in the media concerning vaccine safety impact on your patients' willingness to follow Australian government recommended vaccinations?

Very negative impact

0%

Somewhat negative impact

0%

No noticeable impact

0%

Somewhat positive impact

0%

Very positive impact

0%

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

Oral Contraception Updates

Tuesday 28th October, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Prof Deborah Bateson

Professor of Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney

We invite you to our next free webcast, where Prof Deborah Bateson will present on updates related to the oral contraceptive pill. Up to 4 hours CPD. RACGP & ACRRM accredited.