Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2011 Sep;72(5):737-40. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.737.
Recent reports in Europe suggest a decline in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) use, but quantifiable and objective measurement is unavailable. The global extent of changes in MDMA and related stimulant use is also unclear. This study aims to quantify changes in MDMA use in Australia and determine whether these changes have been accompanied by differing amounts of other stimulant use.
We acquired information on recent use of MDMA and related illicit stimulants in Australia using the method of wastewater analysis. Untreated wastewater samples collected from three metropolitan treatment plants in Adelaide from May to July 2009 and the same months in 2010 were analyzed. Concentrations of MDMA, methamphetamine, and benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) were determined using solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry. Weekly consumed doses of MDMA, methamphetamine, and cocaine per 1,000 people were estimated.
From 2009 to 2010, weekly consumption of MDMA decreased from mean of 4.52 (SEM = 0.74) doses/week per 1,000 people to 0.08 (0.01) doses/week per 1,000 people (p < .001); weekly consumption of methamphetamine increased from a mean of 48.35 (6.13) doses/week per 1,000 people to 68.13 (5.33) doses/week per 1,000 people (p < .05); and weekly consumed doses of cocaine did not significantly change. Local roadside saliva testing data also showed that the MDMA-positive test rate decreased from 0.30% to 0.05% and the methamphetamine-positive test rate increased from 1.43% to 1.52% during the past 2 years.
This study shows a 50-fold decrease in consumed doses of MDMA with a rise in methamphetamine use in Australia over a 1-year period.
欧洲最近的报告表明，3,4-亚甲基二氧甲基苯丙胺（MDMA；摇头丸）的使用有所减少，但缺乏可量化和客观的测量。MDMA 和相关兴奋剂使用的全球变化程度也不清楚。本研究旨在量化澳大利亚 MDMA 使用的变化，并确定这些变化是否伴随着其他兴奋剂使用量的不同。
我们使用废水分析方法获取了澳大利亚最近 MDMA 和相关非法兴奋剂使用情况的信息。我们分析了 2009 年 5 月至 7 月和 2010 年同期取自阿德莱德三个大都市处理厂的未经处理的废水样本。使用固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定 MDMA、甲基苯丙胺和苯甲酰古柯碱（可卡因的代谢物）的浓度。估计每 1000 人每周 MDMA、甲基苯丙胺和可卡因的消耗量。
从 2009 年到 2010 年，每周 MDMA 的消耗量从每 1000 人 4.52（SEM=0.74）剂量/周降至 0.08（0.01）剂量/周（p<0.001）；每周甲基苯丙胺的消耗量从每 1000 人 48.35（6.13）剂量/周增加到每 1000 人 68.13（5.33）剂量/周（p<0.05）；而可卡因的每周消耗量没有明显变化。当地路边唾液检测数据还表明，在过去 2 年中，MDMA 阳性测试率从 0.30%降至 0.05%，而甲基苯丙胺阳性测试率从 1.43%增加到 1.52%。
本研究表明，在 1 年内，澳大利亚 MDMA 的消耗量减少了 50 倍，而甲基苯丙胺的使用量增加。
