hoptis
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- May 1, 2002
- Messages
- 11,083
Ecstasy poses long-term risk
LOUISE TRECCASI, KATELYN JOHN
November 29, 2006 01:15am
ECSTASY users at rave parties can be causing long-term brain damage, while even small amounts can be harmful to first-time users, research has found.
A study by University of Adelaide pharmacologist Dr Rod Irvine is the first time researchers have been able to measure the drug's effects on humans, after dozens of tests showing the effect on lab rats.
The research, collected from clubbers at Australian rave parties, was presented yesterday to the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress in Melbourne.
Dr Irvine said his findings showed humans and rats had the same physiological reaction to the drug.
He said until now, the long-term damaging effects of ecstasy had only been modelled on rat research.
"The data that has been shown in animals suggests there are long-term effects of taking these drugs which might result in cognitive impairment," he said.
"So this means people taking ecstasy might have problems with their memory and things in the long term."
Dr Irvine is now looking to recruit 80 ecstasy users for a new study investigating the link between body temperature and high drug concentration levels in the blood.
He said a spike in body temperature was the most severe and sometimes fatal outcome from using ecstasy.
A study presented at the annual Radiological Society of North America, found a decrease in blood circulation in some areas of the brain in young adults who just started to use ecstasy.
University of Amsterdam researchers said long-term or heavy use of ecstasy could damage neurons and cause depression, anxiety, confusion, difficulty sleeping and impairment of memory.
"We found a decrease in blood circulation in some areas of the brain in young adults who just started to use ecstasy," said lead researcher Maartje de Win.
"We also found a relative decrease in verbal memory performance in ecstasy users compared to non-users."
Ecstasy increases the amount of available serotonin - an important neurotransmitter - in the brain.
Serotinin helps regulate several brain functions, including mood and memory.
The study examined 188 volunteers with no history of ecstasy use but considered at high risk of taking ecstasy.
The Advertiser