3634 men residing in Asturias (northern Spain), average age 10.19 +/- 2.52 years, completed questionnaires on drug use, the Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire and the Sensation Seeking scale (Spanish language versions), with data collected from 1995 to 1999. 397 of 3634 (10.9%) reported at least one use of ecstasy in a lifetime, 287 of 3634 (8%) reported having used ecstasy at least in the prior year, and 164 reported using ecstasy in the prior month. 49.4% (81) of those reporting use in the last month used ecstasy 1 to 3 times a month, 17.7% (29) 6-19 days a month and 32.4% (54) used ecstasy more often than 19 days per month. The sample was divided into 3 groups on the basis of drug use in the past year; 2465 reported no illicit drug use, 885 reported using illicit drugs, but not ecstasy, and 284 reported using ecstasy. Out of the 164 users reporting monthly use of ecstasy, 13 reported exclusive use of ecstasy (4.5% of this group). A greater number of ecstasy users reported using other illicit drugs when compared with those not reporting ecstasy use, and this was particularly true for hallucinogens, cocaine and amphetamines. However, ecstasy users (those reporting use in the last year) were less likely to drink alcohol. Apparently use peaked in 1995, then dropped and stabilized (numbers not presented or conflated with lifetime, yearly and monthly use figures). Ecstasy users had higher Neuroticism and Psychoticism scores than polydrug users who did not report use of ecstasy, but a second analysis eliminating those who used opiates as well as ecstasy found significant differences only on the Psychoticism scale (apparently measures a mix of aggressiveness, creativity and impulsivity). Sensation seeking scores were higher in ecstasy users than in either non-drug users or drug-users reporting no ecstasy use. Ecstasy was the fifth most frequently used drug in this sample, but most people reported using alcohol, cannabis and tobacco before using ecstasy. In conclusion, young men who use ecstasy in northern Spain are generally polydrug users who are high in sensation seeking.