Depression is more likely in teens using speed and ecstasy

A new research has proved that Synthetic drugs are likely to put teenagers at high risk of experiencing symptoms of depression.

Researchers at university of Montreal conducted a five year study on the local teenagers and reached at the conclusion that those who used speed (meth/ampthetamine) or ecstasy (MDMA) at fifteen or sixteen years of age were significantly more prone to go through increased depressive symptom in the years to come.

"Our findings are consistent with other human and animal studies that suggest long-term negative influences of synthetic drug use," co-author Frederic N. Briere of the School Environment Research Group at the University of Montreal has been quoted as saying.

"Our results reveal that recreational MDMA and meth/amphetamine use places typically developing secondary school students at greater risk of experiencing depressive symptoms," Briere added further.

Students of grade ten who used Ecstasy and Speed were respectively 1.7 and 1.6 times more likely to suffer with depression as they proceed to grade eleven.

As a part of the study, the researchers analyzed data provided by 3,880 students enrolled at schools in disadvantaged areas of Quebec. The students were asked to answer an array of questions that were regarding their drug use - what they had used in the past year or ever in their life - and their life at home.

The researchers used standard epidemiological evaluation tool to establish depressive symptoms. 310 students accepted using MDMA and 451 used meth/amphetamines. 584 of all respondents were recognized having increased depressive symptoms.

The array of questions asked during study which allowed researchers to adjust their statistics to take into consideration other factors likely to affect the psychological state of the student, like whether there was any conflict between the parents and the student.

"This study takes into account many more influencing factors than other research that has been undertaken regarding the association between drugs and depression in teenagers," Briere added.

"However, it does have its limitations, in particular the fact that we cannot entirely rule out the effects of drug combinations and that we do not know the exact contents of MDMA and meth/amphetamine pills," he said.

The authors of the study would like to do further research to find out how drug combinations affect a person's susceptibility to suffer depression and they are interested to learn more about the differences between adults and adolescents in this area.

--with inputs from ANI