Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background & Aim: Drug abuse is a kind of unhealthy behaviour or behavioural disorder especially among adolescents. Ecstasy is one of the most dangerous substance which is abused and has numerous harmful side effects. The aim of the study was to determine knowledge about ecstasy and the rate of ecstasy abuse among adolescents in 1385.

  Material & Method: the design was a cross-sectional study that was carried out in the West of Tehran. Eight hundred adolescents who were 16-18 years old and resided in the areas of West Tehran, were selected continously and participated in this study. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire consisted of items regarding knowdge and performance about ecstasy with some questions about demographic information.

  Results: The study findings showed that 53.8% of adolescents had moderate knowledge regarding ecstasy. The difference between boys and girls’ knowledge was not statistically significant. With respect to abusing ecstasy, the findings revealed that 7.6% of subjects used ecstasy at least once. Chi square test showed a significant difference between girls and boys performance about estasy abuse (P=0.000, c ² =19.73). Also there was not any significant relationship between knowledge and performance of the adolescents towards ecstasy abuse. The frequency of abuse of ecstasy was significantly different between male and female adolescents (P=0.000, c ²=19.73). Relationship between knowledge about ecstasy and abuse of it was not significant.

  Conclusion: Based on the study findings, establishment of in-service educational programs related to life skills for teachers and parents in order to improve these skills in adolescent pupils are important. Public propagganda through billboards, posters, short messages regarding drug abuse consequences seem to be necessary among adolescents. Also educational programs by famous actors and sportsmen in order to attract public attention to increase knowledge about drug abuse and their harmful side effects will be useful as a preventive strategy.