Searching the internet for drug-related web sites: Analysis of online available information on ecstasy (MDMA)

Paolo Deluca, Fabrizio Schifano

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    23 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Although the Internet is a growing source of information on MDMA/ecstasy, no studies so far have investigated the level and quality of ecstasy information available to the typical Web user. In the present study, 280 Web sites were identified and analyzed; 50.4% had an anti-drug approach, 16.2% a harm reduction approach, and 24.8% a pro-drug approach. MDMA pro-drug Web sites appeared significantly earlier in the search engines' results list than both anti-drug and harm reduction Web sites (F (3; 159) = 3.288; p = .022). This study represents the first systematic analysis of information available online on ecstasy. Implications for further research are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)479-483
    Number of pages5
    JournalAmerican Journal on Addictions
    Volume16
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2007

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