The relationship between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in young adulthood and anxiety or…

Cohort studyAddiction (Abingdon, England)· Dec 2025

The relationship between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in young adulthood and anxiety or depressive disorders in the mid-30s: Findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study.

Zachary Bryant, Kirsten Morley, Jessica A Kerr … Tim Slade

Adolescent MedicineCohort studyQ1IF 4.6

MDMA use in early adulthood linked to higher odds of anxiety disorder by mid-30s

The relationship between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in young adulthood and anxiety or depressive disorders in the mid-30s: Findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study.

Zachary Bryant … Tim Slade

Addiction (Abingdon, England) · Dec 2025 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or "Ecstasy") is the fourth-most used illicit substance globally.

Purpose

This study assessed whether MDMA use in early adulthood increases the risk of anxiety or depression in mid-30s.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study), which began in 1992 with a statewide representative sample of 1943 Year 9 students (aged 14-15) from 44 Victorian schools.

n = 1943 Year 9 students

Results

MDMA users had higher odds of an anxiety disorder than non-users

OR 1.73 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.68)

null 1

1.12

2.68

CI excludes the null - significant

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Conclusion

MDMA use (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or "Ecstasy") in early adulthood appears to be associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders but not depressive disorder by the mid-30s.