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Thizzin'-Ecstasy use contexts and emergent social meanings
Juliet P Lee1, Robynn S Battle, Brian Soller
1Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 1995 University Avenue. #450, Berkeley, CA 94704.
Addiction Research & Theory
|October 26, 2011
Summary
Ecstasy (MDMA) use among Southeast Asian youth increased due to the local "hyphy" hip-hop subculture, shifting from sexual disinhibition to energizing effects. Local trends significantly influence adolescent drug patterns.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of drug use
- Cultural influences on adolescent behavior
- Substance use patterns in ethnic minority youth
Background:
- Ecstasy (MDMA) traditionally linked to raves and sexual disinhibition.
- Initial studies showed low Ecstasy interest among second-generation Southeast Asian youth.
- A subsequent study revealed Ecstasy as a commonly used substance in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the shift in Ecstasy use patterns among second-generation Southeast Asian youth.
- Analyze the social and cultural contexts influencing this change.
- Understand the evolving meanings and effects associated with Ecstasy use.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis comparing ethnographic data from two distinct study periods (2003).
- Focus on second-generation Southeast Asian youth (ages 15-26) involved with drugs.
- Examination of social contexts, subcultural influences, and user-reported experiences.
Main Results:
- Ecstasy, known as "thizz," uptake was influenced by African American youth in the "hyphy" hip-hop subculture.
- "Thizzin'" effects described as energizing, disinhibiting, numbing, and emotion-enhancing.
- Reported consequences included violence and aggression; sexual disinhibition was rarely mentioned.
Conclusions:
- Drug meanings and effects are context-dependent, influenced by social exposure.
- Adolescent drug use is susceptible to local cultural trends, especially music subcultures.
- Second-generation youth may be particularly vulnerable due to immigration and identity formation processes.
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