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Ecstasy 'makes users depressed for life'
Independent (U.K.) ^ | 16 March 2003 | Sophie Goodchild and Kat Johnson

Posted on 03/16/2003 1:56:47 AM PST by nickcarraway

A generation of young clubbers is risking long-term brain damage by taking the drug ecstasy, according to new research published yesterday. Academics are now warning that taking only one or two pills can lead to lasting depression.

A two-year research study carried out by psychologists from London Metropolitan University found that people who had tried ecstasy on only a few occasions had depression levels four times higher than those who had taken a range of other drugs but not ecstasy.

The findings presented to the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Bournemouth yesterday suggested that taking ecstasy left users susceptible to major problems triggered by stress or emotional turbulence.

The results were based on studying 519 volunteers, including current and past ecstasy users, and others who had either never used drugs or had used a number of drugs other than ecstasy, including alcohol and cannabis.

Participants were given a standard psychological questionnaire designed to discover to what extent they suffered from depression. A score of 25 on the questionnaire indicated clinically depression.

Non-ecstasy users, including those taking other drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, amphetamines and cocaine, had average scores of about four. But the scores of even non-frequent ecstasy users, including many who had only tried the drug once or twice, reached levels of 16 or 17. Frequent users scored values of up to 28 which put them in the category of clinically depressed even though they were generally not aware of the fact.

Ecstasy is currently listed as a class A drug along with cocaine and heroin although recreational users deny that it has any lasting side effects.

There have been 202 ecstasy deaths recorded in England and Wales between 1997 and April 2002. The dangers of the drug were first highlighted by the death of schoolgirl Leah Betts in 1995 who collapsed after taking ecstasy on her 18th birthday.

A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee recommended the downgrading of the drug and anti-drug abuse charities say the Government is sending out the wrong message by linking it with heroin and cocaine.

Lynn Taurah, who carried out the research with Dr Chris Chandler, said that ecstasy users did not realise they were depressed and she warned people to stay away from the drug.

"People often think taking ecstasy just once or twice won't matter, but what we're seeing is evidence that if you take ecstasy a couple of times you do damage to your brain that later in life will make you more vulnerable," she said.

Ms. Taurah added that findings supported evidence from animal studies suggesting that even small doses of ecstasy destroyed brain neurons that produced the important chemical messenger serotonin, which is closely linked to mood. Seven years after the initial damage there was no sign of the neurons repairing themselves.

The animal data raised the possibility that ecstasy may have a whole range of adverse effects involving memory, impulsiveness, decision-making, sleep, and mood.

The research has been received with some scepticism. Dr Jon Cole of Liverpool University, whose own research concluded that the adverse effects of ecstasy had been exaggerated, said that scientists had yet to produce conclusive evidence that the drug had a long term negative impact on users.

"Depression among ecstasy users is not unique. It is the same with people who abuse alcohol," said Dr Cole. "All the evidence so far points to the fact that all these side effects may be down to other factors."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: depression; drugs; health; medicine; wodlist
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To: nickcarraway; *Wod_list
The research has been received with some scepticism. Dr Jon Cole of Liverpool University, whose own research concluded that the adverse effects of ecstasy had been exaggerated, said that scientists had yet to produce conclusive evidence that the drug had a long term negative impact on users.

"Depression among ecstasy users is not unique. It is the same with people who abuse alcohol," said Dr Cole. "All the evidence so far points to the fact that all these side effects may be down to other factors."

BUMP
21 posted on 03/17/2003 7:42:21 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: Timesink
On its face, your statements are nonsense. Please people, do some research on the subject. The seratonin manufacturing, release and uptake mechanisms are not that complicated. What ecstasy does is not that complicated. Anyone claiming that "permanent damage" is done to the brain is not a scientist.
22 posted on 03/17/2003 7:51:41 AM PST by jayef
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To: NDante77
Not that crap again. Eats holes in the brain? Really? Like hydrochloric acid? Come on, man. GEEEZ. READ SOMETHING OTHER THAN PROPAGANDA FROM OPRAH AND THE ONDCP.
23 posted on 03/17/2003 7:54:26 AM PST by jayef
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: PoisedWoman
LSD does changes people's lives, but not in any biochemically determinible way. LSD is one of very few drugs whose doses are measured in micrograms (one millionth of a gram), as opposed to milligrams (one thousandth of a gram).

The way LSD affects people varys so wildly, that no one has ever bothered to try to come up with a specific list of effects. It turns out that the effects do seem to depend a great deal on what the user expects the effects to be. In other words, you can actually decide on what it will do to you (to a certain degree).

As for the life-changing aspect, that is 100% psychological. An LSD trip is a very traumatic experience - meaning it is very intense. The word "traumatic" tends to have negative connotations, but here it means very intense and significant to the user. In this way, LSD can change one's life the same way a car accident, loss of a loved one, divorce, etc can change one's life. This also explains the phenomenom known as "flashbacks". They are simply psychological memory-induced "reliving" the traumatic experience. So LSD flashbacks are the same as car crash flashbacks.
25 posted on 03/17/2003 9:22:08 AM PST by spodbox
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That may explain some posters around here...
26 posted on 03/17/2003 9:23:59 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: AntiGuv
Good point. people who use tend to be depressed or emotionally unstable in the first place.
27 posted on 03/17/2003 9:39:21 AM PST by ffusco ("Essiri sempri la santu fora la chiesa.")
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To: jayef
Its possible that X damages serotonin production or otherwise affects the way the brain chemistry works. However I'm no scientist and any estimate of something as subjective as mood and depression are hard to quantify.
28 posted on 03/17/2003 9:42:51 AM PST by ffusco ("Essiri sempri la santu fora la chiesa.")
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To: nickcarraway
Ecstasy causes the serotonin pumps in the brain to go redline (it's the rush of serotonin that gives the buzz), and after enough abuse they could be expected to fail, in numbers small or large. A lifetime of depression would be the result.
29 posted on 03/17/2003 9:44:41 AM PST by Petronski (I'm not always cranky.)
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To: jayef
Please people, do some research on the subject.

With a sneering post like yours, the onus is on you to show why the study cannot possibly be correct.

Anyone with the most basic knowledge of chemistry or pharmacology knows that there are all sorts of compounds out there can cause immediate, permanent damage to a given body organ or part of an organ. The brain is an organ, albeit the least-understood one. QED.

When the world's leading neuroscientists can't yet come to any consensus on the topic, I somehow doubt you have the magic key to all MDMA understanding.

30 posted on 03/17/2003 10:43:25 AM PST by Timesink (Hi, Billy Mays here for new MOAB! It'll wipe your worst stains right off the face of the planet!)
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To: Timesink
You are free to believe what you want to believe. I will stick with objective science. Anyone who says ecstasy "eats holes in the brain" is verifyably engaged in unscientific posturing.

Does down-regulation happen? Yes. Does dopamine get broken down into neurotixic metabolites? Yes. Are these effects ameliorable? Yes.

Basic knowledge of chemistry and pharmacology notwithstanding, the specific effects of ecstasy have been studied and scientific results are available. Unfortunately, human studies are almost impossible because of our silly Drugs Policy.

I merely invite you and everyone else to question statements that are clearly prejudicial and unfounded. Everyone is free to draw their own conclusions. I just ask that you consider objective and scientific sources.

The same sorts of things were said about marijuana in the 30's. Do you really think that we are somehow immune now to the same sort of propagandizing by the establishment?
31 posted on 03/17/2003 12:08:15 PM PST by jayef
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To: eno_
I think she is looking for the pineal gland, not neurons.

It's the "neurons" in the pineal gland that make serotonin

32 posted on 03/17/2003 12:13:54 PM PST by realpatriot71 (legalize freedom!)
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To: PoisedWoman
Also, do you have any idea whether LSD would have the same or similar effect on serotonin? LSD certainly changed people's lives forever, even one dose.

LSD works on the serotonin system as well - most of your "hallucinogenic" drugs involve serotonin in one way or another.

33 posted on 03/17/2003 12:16:51 PM PST by realpatriot71 (legalize freedom!)
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To: AntiGuv
By comparison, a recent study of former cocaine users found discernible (though minor) after-effects one year after the cessation of use, while a comparable study found no meaningful effects three years after cessation.

My observation is that former pot smokers are spacey for decades after. Of course, I'm assuming that Bill, Hillary, Al, and Tipper ever stopped.

34 posted on 03/17/2003 12:21:36 PM PST by JoeSchem
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To: JoeSchem
That's absurd.
35 posted on 03/17/2003 12:29:36 PM PST by jayef
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To: JoeSchem
My observation is that former pot smokers are spacey for decades after.

My observation is the contrary.

36 posted on 03/17/2003 1:38:12 PM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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