ScienceDaily: Ecstasy News

Mephedrone boosts illegal drug use

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Experienced clubbers are more likely to add the former ‘legal high’ mephedrone to their drug repertoires rather than use it to replace popular established club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine, according to new research.

Waste water analysis reveals for the first time real time information regarding drug consumption in 19 European cities

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:29:29 EDT

Waste water analysis using urinary biomarkers allows the reliable detection of actual drug consumption in cities. For the first time, a wide group of scientists have carried out a comparative study regarding the consumption of illegal drugs in 19 European cities, four of which are Spanish, based on waste water analysis. In the case of Spain, cannabis and cocaine consumption is higher than that of other drugs such as methamphetamines and ecstasy, appearing in each of the four cities analysed: Barcelona, Castelló de la Plana, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia.

European drug use analyzed through raw sewage samples

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:45:45 EDT

Surveys of drug use form an important basis for the development of effective drug policies, and also for measuring the effectiveness of existing policies. For the first time in history, scientists have now made direct comparisons of illicit drug use in 19 European cities by a cooperative analysis of raw sewage samples.

Ecstasy harms memory with one year of recreational use

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:02:02 EDT

There has been significant debate in policy circles about whether governments have over-reacted to ecstasy by issuing warnings against its use and making it illegal. In the UK, David Nutt said ecstasy was less dangerous than horseback riding, which led to him being fired as the government's chief drug advisor. Others have argued that ecstasy is dangerous if you use it a lot, but brief use is safe. New evidence points to memory impairments from one year of recreational use.

Drug study shows clubbers have little interest in new wave legal highs

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:20:20 EDT

Clubbers show little interest in the subsequent wave of legal highs that have become available since mephedrone was banned, according to a new study.

American teens are less likely than European teens to use cigarettes and alcohol, but more likely to use illicit drugs

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:13:13 EDT

The U.S. had the second-lowest proportion of students who used tobacco and alcohol compared to their counterparts in 36 European countries, a new report indicates.

Speed and ecstasy associated with depression in teenagers

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:35:35 EDT

A five year study conducted with thousands of teenagers reveals that those who used speed (meth/ampthetamine) or ecstasy (MDMA) at fifteen or sixteen years of age were significantly more likely to suffer elevated depressive symptoms the following year.

Ecstasy drug produces lasting toxicity in the brain

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:51:51 EST

Recreational use of Ecstasy -- the illegal "rave" drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth -- is associated with chronic changes in the human brain, researchers have discovered. The findings add to the growing evidence that Ecstasy produces long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity in humans.

High childhood IQ linked to subsequent illicit drug use, research suggests

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:10:10 EST

A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, new research suggests.

Safety issue revealed as 1 in 20 Australian workers admits to drinking at work, survey finds

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:29:29 EDT

A national survey has found that more than one in twenty Australian workers report using alcohol while at work or just before work, and more than one in fifty report taking drugs during or just before work. The findings have implications for workplace safety.

Ecstasy associated with chronic change in brain function

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:35:35 EDT

Ecstasy -- the illegal "rave" drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth -- may have therapeutic value. Clinical trials are testing Ecstasy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. It's important, therefore, to define the impact of Ecstasy on brain function. Researchers report that recreational Ecstasy use is associated with a chronic change in brain function.

New study finds no cognitive impairment among ecstasy users

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:17:17 EST

In contrast to many prior studies, ecstasy users in a new study showed no signs of cognitive impairment attributable to drug use: ecstasy use did not decrease mental ability.

MDMA (ecstasy): Empathogen or love potion?

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:29:29 EST

MDMA -- commonly known as ecstasy -- increases feelings of empathy and social connection. These 'empathogenic' effects suggest that MDMA might be useful to enhance the psychotherapy of people who struggle to feel connected to others, as may occur in association with autism, schizophrenia, or antisocial personality disorder. However, these effects have been difficult to measure objectively, and there has been limited research in humans.

MDMA (Ecstasy)-assisted psychotherapy relieves treatment-resistant PTSD, study suggests

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:29:29 EDT

MDMA (also known as Ecstasy), may one day offer hope for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even people for whom other treatments have failed. Clinical trial suggests that MDMA can be administered to subjects with PTSD without evidence of harm and could offer sufferers a vital window with reduced fear responses where psychotherapy can take effect.

Do recreational drugs make us fail to remember?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:06:06 EST

Have you ever forgotten to post an important letter or let an appointment slip your mind? A new study from UK researchers suggests that for those who regularly use ecstasy or other recreational drugs, this kind of memory lapse is more common. Their research uncovered potential links between memory deficits and cocaine for the first time.

Cocaine or ecstasy consumption during adolescence increases risk of addiction

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:18:18 EST

Exposure to ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence increases the "reinforcing effects" that make people vulnerable to developing an addiction. This is the main conclusion of a research team that has shown for the first time how these changes persist into adulthood.

Fatality Rates Among Young Drug Users A Cause For Concern

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:26:26 EST

Ecstasy-related death rates in young users is a cause for concern, researchers report.

Two worlds of Drug Consumption in Late Modern Societies

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:31:31 EST

Europeans belong to the largest consumers of illicit drugs, absorbing about one fifth of the global heroin, cocaine and cannabis supply, as well as one third of ecstasy production (UNODC World Drug report, 2008). However, the vast majority of Europeans have never tried any illicit substance.

Ecstasy use may lead to sleep apnea: Illegal 'club drug' poisons neurons involved in control of breathing during sleep

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:23:23 EST

Repeated use of the drug popularly known as "ecstasy" significantly raises the risk of developing sleep apnea in otherwise healthy young adults with no other known risk factors for the sleep disturbance, a new study suggests. The finding is the latest highlighting the potential dangers of the amphetamine-style chemical, currently used illegally by millions of people in the United States.

Drug users know their stuff

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:43:43 EST

Drug users are well informed about the harms associated with the drugs they use, and perceive alcohol and tobacco to be amongst the most dangerous substances, according to a new survey.

Wastewater Used To Map Illicit Drug Use

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:08:08 EDT

A team of researchers has mapped patterns of illicit drug use across the state of Oregon using a method of sampling municipal wastewater before it is treated. Their findings provide a one-day snapshot of drug excretion that can be used to better understand patterns of drug use in multiple municipalities over time.

Knock-Out Drugs: Narrow Window For Detection

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:20:20 EDT

Drug-facilitated sexual crimes are increasing. Germany's Bonn Institute for Forensic Medicine has recorded that the number of examinations on the use of intoxicants in sexual offences within their catchment area increased 10-fold between 1997 and 2006. In a new study, researchers present the modes of action and the detection windows for the most frequent substances.

Ecstasy Could Help Patients With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Study Suggests

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:29:29 EDT

Ecstasy may help suffers of post-traumatic stress learn to deal with their memories more effectively by encouraging a feeling of safety, according to an article in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Ecstasy For Treatment Of Traumatic Anxiety

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:16:16 EST

Treatment with a pharmacological version of the drug ecstasy makes PSTD patients more receptive to psychotherapy, and contributes to lasting improvement. Now researchers explain why.

Pleasure Seekers: Clubbing Is A Controlled Rave Experience

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:12:12 EDT

Clubbers -- people who dance the night away in dance clubs -- are seeking communal, ecstatic experiences. And, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, modern clubbers get a more controlled, legalized version of the raves of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:27:27 EDT

Academics in the UK are issuing new warnings about the dangers of ecstasy and its effects on the brain.

Potential Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Cure Found In Century-old Drug

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:13:13 EDT

A century-old drug, methylene blue, may be able to slow or even cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Used at a very low concentration -- about the equivalent of a few raindrops in four Olympic-sized swimming pools of water -- the drug slows cellular aging and enhances mitochondrial function, potentially allowing those with the diseases to live longer, healthier lives.

New NHS Guidelines On Recreational Drugs In Nightclubs Are All The Rave

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:05:05 EDT

New guidelines have been written which will assist nightclub staff in deciding whether to call ambulances for unwell clubbers. At present, there is a worry that inappropriate management has lead to clubbers only being referred to hospital after significant problems have occurred -- leading to increased risk of injury and death.

Ecstasy Deaths Linked To Raised Body Temperature

Sat, 31 May 2008 09:15:15 EDT

A new study has revealed that effects of the drug ecstasy are compounded when taken in warm environments. Preclinical research shows that ecstasy deaths, which are invariably related to elevated body temperature, may be related to drug users' failure to recognize their body is abnormally hot.

Young People Are Intentionally Drinking And Taking Drugs For Better Sex, European Survey Finds

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:24:24 EDT

Teenagers and young adults across Europe drink and take drugs as part of deliberate sexual strategies. A third of 16-35 year old males and a quarter of females surveyed are drinking alcohol to increase their chances of sex, while cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis are intentionally used to enhance sexual arousal or prolong sex.

Club Drugs Inflict Damage Similar To Traumatic Brain Injury

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:11:11 EST

Researchers say certain club drugs trigger a chemical chain reaction in the brain similar to what occurs during traumatic brain injury, leading to cell death, memory loss and potentially irreversible brain damage.

Neural Damage Provoked By Ecstasy Is Related To Ambient Temperature At Which It Is Consumed

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:28:28 EDT

There exists a direct relationship between the consumption of MDMA, or ecstasy, at a high ambient temperature and an increase in the neural damage which this drug provokes.

Low Doses Of Ecstasy Associated With Decline In Verbal Memory

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:49:49 EDT

Even low doses of Ecstasy may be associated with a decline in language-related memory, according to a new report.

Addiction Breakthrough May Lead To New Treatments

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:28:28 EST

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered why some individuals may be predisposed to drug addiction and believe it may lead to better treatments for this brain disorder.

Ecstasy Can Harm The Brains Of First-time Users

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:44:44 EST

Researchers have discovered that even a small amount of MDMA, better known as ecstasy, can be harmful to the brain, according to the first study to look at the neurotoxic effects of low doses of the recreational drug in new ecstasy users. The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

'Ecstasy' Linked To Survival Of Key Movement-related Cells In Brain

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:08:08 EDT

New research from the University of Cincinnati suggests that the widely abused club drug "ecstasy," or MDMA, can increase the survival of dopamine cells in the brain during fetal development. Because these cells are critical in the regulation of voluntary movement, the findings, the researchers say, may lead to better therapies for neurological diseases like Parkinson's.

New Mechanism Found For Neurodegenerative Effects Of Amphetamines In Mice

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:35:35 EDT

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for the neurodegenerative effects of amphetamines. These drugs are converted in the brain into free radicals, highly reactive molecules that cause neurodegenerative brain damage and whose effects manifest and linger long after the amphetamine has left the body.

Loud Music Worsens Effects Of Taking Ecstasy

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 10:22:22 EST

Loud music prolongs the effects of taking ecstasy for up to five days. A study published today in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience shows that the reduction in rats' brain activity induced by 3,4 -Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) lasts long after administration of the drug -- up to five days -- if loud music is played to them simultaneously. The effects wear off within a day when no music is played.

Ecstasy Affects Memory, New International Study Shows

Thu, 15 Jan 2004 07:49:49 EST

People who take the recreational drug ecstasy risk impairing their memory, according to an international study which surveyed users in places including the USA, UK, other European countries and Australia.

Ecstasy Can Trigger Heart Attacks In Users

Wed, 26 Nov 2003 06:42:42 EST

The illegal drug MDMA (Methylene 3, 4 dioxy-methamphetamine) more commonly known as "Ecstasy" or "XTC," can trigger heart attacks, according to a case report in the December issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Taking Ecstasy During Pregnancy May Cause Brain Damage, Behavior Problems In Babies

Wed, 03 Sep 2003 07:55:55 EDT

Women who take the drug Ecstasy in their first trimester of pregnancy may be putting their unborn child at risk for brain damage, according to a study published in the September issue of the journal Neurotoxicity and Teratology.

Rat Study Shows Exposure To Ecstasy Early In Pregnancy Induces Brain, Behavior Changes

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 07:40:40 EDT

Researchers at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago have shown that 21-day-old rat pups exposed in the womb to the drug MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, often called Ecstasy) during a period corresponding to the first trimester in human pregnancy exhibit changes in brain chemistry and behavior.

Ecstasy Link To Long-Term Brain Damage

Tue, 05 Mar 2002 07:36:36 EST

Disturbing evidence is emerging that the increasingly popular drug ecstasy can be linked to users suffering long-term brain damage. University of Adelaide researchers have found that ecstasy taken on a few occasions could cause severe damage to brain cells, with the potential to cause future memory loss or psychological problems.

Ecstasy Component May Help Researchers Measure Brain Damage From The Drug

Tue, 14 Aug 2001 06:34:34 EDT

Researchers in Spain have isolated for the first time a by-product of the illicit drug Ecstasy that is believed to cause some of the brain damage associated with the drug. They believe their finding will help them measure, with greater precision, the long-term neurotoxicity of Ecstasy in human users.

Reseachers Find Evidence That Prenatal Use Of Ecstasy Can Cause Long-Term Memory Loss And Other Impairments In Offspring

Tue, 01 May 2001 07:47:47 EDT

Researchers have reported the first evidence that a mother’s use of MDMA (ecstasy) during pregnancy may result in specific types of long-term learning and memory impairments in her offspring.

Study Finds Long-Term Ecstasy Use Leads To Memory Loss

Tue, 10 Apr 2001 08:46:46 EDT

Long-term users of 'ecstacy,' the street name for the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), tend to experience memory loss or impairment, according to a study reported in the April 10 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Ecstasy Use Depletes Brain's Serotonin Levels

Thu, 27 Jul 2000 08:13:13 EDT

Use of the recreational drug Ecstasy causes a severe reduction in the amount of serotonin in the brain, according to a study in the July 25 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Hopkins Study Shows Brain Damage Evidence In 'Ecstasy' Users

Sat, 31 Oct 1998 18:14:14 EST

The common street drug "ecstasy" causes brain damage in people, according to a new Johns Hopkins study. In a report in The Lancet released last week, Hopkins scientists show that the drug -- known chemically as MDMA -- damages specific nerves in the brain that release serotonin, the nerve transmitter thought to play a role in regulating mood, memory, pain perception, sleep, appetite and sexual activity.