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Prospective associations between meth/amphetamine (speed) and MDMA (ecstasy) use and depressive symptoms in secondary school students
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 05/02/2012
Clinical Article
N Briere F et al. – Adolescent use of meth/amphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (particularly concurrent use) is independently associated with subsequent depressive symptoms.
Methods- A sample of 3880 adolescents from secondary schools in disadvantaged areas of Quebec, Canada, were followed over time (2003–2008).
- Logistic regression was used to test the association between meth/amphetamine and MDMA use in grade 10 (ages 15–16 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.
- 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).