The hype surrounding the love drug ecstasy is associated with a few well-publicised deaths. The chances of dying from taking ecstasy are remote. However the problem that should be highlighted is ecstasy use may have adverse effects on memory and anxiety disorders.
SHELLY HORTON: Ecstasy is the street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA -- the illegal drug popular with clubbers around the world.
Taken in a pill form, ecstasy alters the user's mood, and increases a sense of well-being.
That's why it's called the love drug.
While nobody claims ecstasy is benign, Paul Dillon from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the hype surrounding ecstasy-related deaths is unwarranted.
PAUL DILLON, NATIONAL DRUG & ALCOHOL RESEARCH CENTRE: Hundreds of thousands of ecstasy tablets are taken every weekend around the world, and we tend to find very few deaths.
But it is important for ecstasy users to realise that there are a number of other risks associated with, uh, with ecstasy use -- not just death.
SHELLY HORTON: But research into those risks is difficult, because ethically, human trials can't be done.
PROF.
IAN McGREGOR, DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: We've been doing research for more than two years now, on the long term effects of ecstasy on the brain and behaviour.
So we actually take rats and we give them a, you could call it an ecstasy weekend.
When we give the rats the ecstasy, they behave a bit like humans on ecstasy.
They get hot, they get sweaty, they move around a lot, and I won't call it dancing, but they're certainly very active.
Uh, and they also show an increase in social interactions.
So if they're under the influence of ecstasy, they'll spend a lot more time interacting with another rat, and, uh, again, I wouldn't call it cuddling, but they're -- they're certainly more socially interested than normal.
SHELLY HORTON: Six months after that one drug weekend, and the rats show significant behavioural changes.
PROF. IAN McGREGOR: An increased incidence of depression, there's an increase incidence of anxiety disorders, and there's about 15 studies now that have shown impaired cognitive function.
SHELLY HORTON: That means brain damage.
Dr Rod Irvine from Adelaide University had studied rats that were given ecstasy over a much longer period.
DR ROD IRVINE, DEPT OF PHARMACOLOGY, ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY: What has been shown is that one particular chemical that's important for normal brain functions -- serotonin -- has been lost.
And one would predict from that, from a mechanistic point of view, that this would result in memory loss, and perhaps mood changes.
SHELLY HORTON: But the main problem with all of these studies is the animals are given pure MDMA.
And yet, In Australia, only 20 per cent of ecstasy tablets even contain MDMA - most are amphetamine-based.
Another problem with the research is it fails to take into account that most ecstasy users are poly-drug users.
What that means is, on a big weekend, a user might take ecstasy, amphetamines, nicotine, cannabis, and then wash it all down with alcohol.
Creating a dangerous cocktail that scientists are having a lot of trouble replicating in their studies.
DR ROD IRVINE: If you combine the fact that they purposely use more than one drug, with the fact that the drugs themselves are often combinations of chemicals, then, uh, it is a concern.
SHELLY HORTON: It's been proven that ecstasy increases your body temperature and the higher your body temperature, the more severe the adverse effects.
PROF. IAN McGREGOR: If we give rats ecstasy in a hot, sweaty environment, then the long term consequences are much worse than if we give it to them in a cool environment where they're not crowded together with other rats.
SHELLY HORTON: And yet most human users do the drugs at crowded, sweaty dance parties.
That's why a three-pronged approach to harm minimisation is the basis of Australia's drug policy.
PAUL DILLON: Supply reduction, which is reducing the supply of drugs into the country.
Um, and then we have demand reduction - which is trying to prevent drug use from ever happening, or providing treatment.
And then the third, which is the most controversial - which is harm reduction, which is acknowledging that some people will use drugs, um, and trying to prevent harm from occurring while they're doing that.
SHELLY HORTON: Harm minimisation extends to nightclub owners.
Tim Waugh runs Home nightclub in Sydney.
He has a zero tolerance on drugs in his club, but he also has implemented groundbreaking harm minimisation policies.
TIM WAUGH, GENERAL MANAGER, HOME NIGHTCLUB: While we do the utmost to really stop drug activity getting in the venue, we do realise that it does go on.
And it's important, I think, that we have policies in place that are geared towards providing the safest possible clubbing environment.
SHELLY HORTON: Some of those policies include free water refills, extensive security camera coverage, chill-out areas and even a medical emergency room.
TIM WAUGH: This is where out on-site medic is based on our club nights for the treatment of people, should anything go wrong.
SHELLY HORTON: So, while the long-term effects of ecstasy use are hazy, scientists will explore options such as testing rats with impure ecstasy bought on a street and analysing those pills to discover adverse chemical reactions within the one tablet.
PAUL DILLON: Well, I think if people don't want any harm from taking ecstasy, then the best message is not to use.
If you are going to use any drug, whether it be legal or illegal, you need to be informed of the real risks associated with it.
And unfortunately, many ecstasy users out there aren't well informed.
And that's where things go wrong.
STATISTICS: Ecstasy tablets almost never contain pure MDMA
SHELLY HORTON: Ecstasy is the street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA -- the illegal drug popular with clubbers around the world.
Taken in a pill form, ecstasy alters the user's mood, and increases a sense of well-being.
That's why it's called the love drug.
While nobody claims ecstasy is benign, Paul Dillon from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the hype surrounding ecstasy-related deaths is unwarranted.
PAUL DILLON, NATIONAL DRUG & ALCOHOL RESEARCH CENTRE: Hundreds of thousands of ecstasy tablets are taken every weekend around the world, and we tend to find very few deaths.
But it is important for ecstasy users to realise that there are a number of other risks associated with, uh, with ecstasy use -- not just death.
SHELLY HORTON: But research into those risks is difficult, because ethically, human trials can't be done.
PROF.
IAN McGREGOR, DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: We've been doing research for more than two years now, on the long term effects of ecstasy on the brain and behaviour.
So we actually take rats and we give them a, you could call it an ecstasy weekend.
When we give the rats the ecstasy, they behave a bit like humans on ecstasy.
They get hot, they get sweaty, they move around a lot, and I won't call it dancing, but they're certainly very active.
Uh, and they also show an increase in social interactions.
So if they're under the influence of ecstasy, they'll spend a lot more time interacting with another rat, and, uh, again, I wouldn't call it cuddling, but they're -- they're certainly more socially interested than normal.
SHELLY HORTON: Six months after that one drug weekend, and the rats show significant behavioural changes.
PROF. IAN McGREGOR: An increased incidence of depression, there's an increase incidence of anxiety disorders, and there's about 15 studies now that have shown impaired cognitive function.
SHELLY HORTON: That means brain damage.
Dr Rod Irvine from Adelaide University had studied rats that were given ecstasy over a much longer period.
DR ROD IRVINE, DEPT OF PHARMACOLOGY, ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY: What has been shown is that one particular chemical that's important for normal brain functions -- serotonin -- has been lost.
And one would predict from that, from a mechanistic point of view, that this would result in memory loss, and perhaps mood changes.
SHELLY HORTON: But the main problem with all of these studies is the animals are given pure MDMA.
And yet, In Australia, only 20 per cent of ecstasy tablets even contain MDMA - most are amphetamine-based.
Another problem with the research is it fails to take into account that most ecstasy users are poly-drug users.
What that means is, on a big weekend, a user might take ecstasy, amphetamines, nicotine, cannabis, and then wash it all down with alcohol.
Creating a dangerous cocktail that scientists are having a lot of trouble replicating in their studies.
DR ROD IRVINE: If you combine the fact that they purposely use more than one drug, with the fact that the drugs themselves are often combinations of chemicals, then, uh, it is a concern.
SHELLY HORTON: It's been proven that ecstasy increases your body temperature and the higher your body temperature, the more severe the adverse effects.
PROF. IAN McGREGOR: If we give rats ecstasy in a hot, sweaty environment, then the long term consequences are much worse than if we give it to them in a cool environment where they're not crowded together with other rats.
SHELLY HORTON: And yet most human users do the drugs at crowded, sweaty dance parties.
That's why a three-pronged approach to harm minimisation is the basis of Australia's drug policy.
PAUL DILLON: Supply reduction, which is reducing the supply of drugs into the country.
Um, and then we have demand reduction - which is trying to prevent drug use from ever happening, or providing treatment.
And then the third, which is the most controversial - which is harm reduction, which is acknowledging that some people will use drugs, um, and trying to prevent harm from occurring while they're doing that.
SHELLY HORTON: Harm minimisation extends to nightclub owners.
Tim Waugh runs Home nightclub in Sydney.
He has a zero tolerance on drugs in his club, but he also has implemented groundbreaking harm minimisation policies.
TIM WAUGH, GENERAL MANAGER, HOME NIGHTCLUB: While we do the utmost to really stop drug activity getting in the venue, we do realise that it does go on.
And it's important, I think, that we have policies in place that are geared towards providing the safest possible clubbing environment.
SHELLY HORTON: Some of those policies include free water refills, extensive security camera coverage, chill-out areas and even a medical emergency room.
TIM WAUGH: This is where out on-site medic is based on our club nights for the treatment of people, should anything go wrong.
SHELLY HORTON: So, while the long-term effects of ecstasy use are hazy, scientists will explore options such as testing rats with impure ecstasy bought on a street and analysing those pills to discover adverse chemical reactions within the one tablet.
PAUL DILLON: Well, I think if people don't want any harm from taking ecstasy, then the best message is not to use.
If you are going to use any drug, whether it be legal or illegal, you need to be informed of the real risks associated with it.
And unfortunately, many ecstasy users out there aren't well informed.
And that's where things go wrong.
STATISTICS: Ecstasy tablets almost never contain pure MDMA
