The classification of Ecstacy: come down or stay high - Essay Example

Ecstasy is an integral part of the techno music scene, with performers and audiences alike using the drug to enhance their psychedelic experiences. Clandestine raves are held in open air locations where loud music and marathon dancing are inextricably coupled with heavy use of ecstasy. This form of entertainment is particularly popular among young people and rock concerts or all night dance parties are characterized by extensive use of ecstasy. Another venue where ecstasy is frequently used is at strip clubs, which are a very popular form of adult entertainment in the United States.

3 However, as one study has shown4, the use of ecstasy is not confined merely to rave situations, but is also used in a variety of settings involving entertainment such as social settings involving dance or music venues including rock concerts, private residences of entertainers and other categories of the public and bars in inner city neighborhoods. Youngsters also cruise around neighborhoods while they use ecstasy. This study found that the effects of ecstasy use varied depending upon the settings, especially at private residences and gay clubs where there was a racial and ethnic mix of various age groups of ecstasy users, thus showing a widespread and diverse base of users of ecstasy among members of the public.

Moreover, one important conclusion that was established in this study was that respondents used it widely as far as the hip hop scene is concerned and the users report higher feelings of self esteem which enables them to interact sexually with the opposite sex with a higher degree of comfort and ease. Another notable aspect that was pointed out in this study is the fact that in residential settings, there was a higher incidence of mixed use of ecstasy with other experimental drugs or higher risk drugs which are associated with more damaging and addictive behavior.

A study on ecstasy use that was conducted by Pederson and Skrondal5 revealed