User perceptions of long-term costs and benefits of MDMA use: Findings from a large online sample
The authors of this free full-text PsyArXiv paper write "Previous research has focused largely on risks associated with non-clinical (‘recreational’) MDMA use. Potential benefits produced through MDMA-assisted psychotherapy raise the question whether recreational users might report some positive long-term effects of MDMA use."
They continue "Aim. 1) To assess the perceptions of recreational MDMA users regarding a wide range of both positive and negative long-term effects of MDMA use. 2) To generate a large data set including other correlates of interest to highlight targets for future research. Methods. Eight-hundred and eighty-six MDMA users gave valid responses to an online survey, covering perceived long-term effects, acute and subacute effects, use motivations, contexts of use, and polydrug use. We present descriptive results for motivations, acute, subacute, and long-term effects, and exploratory relationships between long-term effects and these variables. Results. User perceptions of MDMA’s long-term effects were far more positive than negative, with a positive overarching perspective on having used MDMA and endorsement of several more specific effects. Negative/unpleasant acute and subacute effects of MDMA use were positively related to negative long-term effects. Positive/pleasant acute and subacute effects were positively related to positive long-term effects. User motivations were also significantly associated with perceived long-term effects. A minority of users reported negative effects (e.g., on concentration/memory and mood), which should not be ignored. Conclusions. Factors beyond the anticipation of a short-term high likely play into many users’ decisions to use MDMA. A nuanced understanding of user perceptions can inform drug safety communication, our understanding of drug effects, and drug policy."
They also commented "The most strongly endorsed positive long-term items reflected positive overarching views of having used MDMA: that it had provided them with great memories, that they were glad they had tried it, and that their most positive experiences on MDMA had been among their best life experiences. However, a large number of respondents also endorsed more specific positive effects, indicating that they felt their MDMA use had heightened their aesthetic appreciation even when not on the drug, helped them develop more or deeper friendships, allowed them to learn to let go and express themselves without negative consequences, and to develop a more positive view of their lives and the future that extended beyond an afterglow period. In short, user perceptions of the long-term effects of MDMA were far more positive than negative."
"If we take user perceptions of the long-term impact of MDMA at face value as indicating genuine effects, then it is worth considering how MDMA might induce such changes. It is increasingly recognized that drug effects can be understood as operating not only in terms of altered neurochemistry, but with reference to the subjective experiences this neurochemistry may enable or facilitate (Roseman et al., 2018). Several of the highly endorsed positive effects appear to be extensions of acute effects (e.g., seeing things in a positive light, heightened aesthetic appreciation, building deeper connections with others). One possibility is that the intense acute experiences induced by MDMA may transport the user into a subjective state that they have not previously experienced – for example, being far more intensely affected by touch and music than usual, or being unusually unguarded and open with people. Simply knowing that it is possible to inhabit such a subjective state may change the user’s perspectives and what they are able to appreciate. Having had such experiences may also help the user to move towards such states even when not on the drug. These ideas remain speculative, but align with anecdotal reports from others who experienced profound changes in perspective after taking MDMA."
Follow the link above for the whole post, or for more psychedelic news and research, visit the psychedelic health professional network homepage.