Report - Ecstasy does not cause brain harm, dangers greatly exaggerated

ghostdancer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/19/ecstasy-harm-brain-new-study?CMP=twt_fd

Previous research was flawed, say experts, but findings will shock those who campaign against the drug's use


There is no evidence that ecstasy causes brain damage, according to one of the largest studies into the effects of the drug. Too many previous studies made over-arching conclusions from insufficient data, say the scientists responsible for the research, and the drug's dangers have been greatly exaggerated.

The finding will shock campaigners who have claimed ecstasy poses a real risk of triggering brain damage. They have argued that it can induce memory loss, decrease cognitive performance and has long-lasting effects on behaviour.

But experts who have argued that the drug is relatively safe welcomed the new paper. "I always assumed that, when properly designed studies were carried out, we would find ecstasy does not cause brain damage," said Professor David Nutt, who was fired as chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs by Alan Johnson, then home secretary, for publicly stating alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than ecstasy.

The study was carried out by a team led by Professor John Halpern of Harvard Medical School and published in the journal Addiction last week. Funded by a $1.8m grant from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, it was launched specifically to avoid methodological drawbacks that have bedevilled previous attempts to pinpoint whether or not ecstasy users suffer brain damage.

Ecstasy – or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA – came into widespread use in the 1980s when taking it was linked to raves and the playing of dance music. Its symptoms include euphoria, a sense of intimacy with others and diminished anxiety and depression. In the US alone, more than 12 million have taken it.

But the taking of ecstasy has also been linked to damage to the central nervous system and research in recent years has suggested that long-term changes to emotional states and behaviour have been triggered by consumption of the drug. Possession of it has been made an offence in most western nations.

However, Halpern was sharply critical of the quality of the research that had linked ecstasy to brain damage. "Too many studies have been carried out on small populations, while overarching conclusions have been drawn from them," he said. For a start, some previous research has studied users who were taken from a culture dominated by all-night dancing, which thus exposed these individuals to sleep and fluid deprivation – factors that are themselves known to produce long-lasting cognitive effects. Non-users were not selected from those from a similar background, which therefore skewed results. In addition, past studies have not taken sufficient account of the fact that ecstasy users take other drugs or alcohol that could affect cognition or that they may have suffered intellectual impairment before they started taking ecstasy. In Halpern's study only ecstasy users who took no other drugs and who had suffered no previous impairment were selected.

The resulting experiment whittled down 1,500 potential participants to 52 selected users, whose cognitive abilities matched those of a group of 59 non-users. "We even took hair samples of participants to test whether they were telling the truth about their drug and alcohol habits," said Halpern. "Essentially we compared one group of people who danced and raved and took ecstasy with a similar group of individuals who danced and raved but who did not take ecstasy. When we did that, we found that there was no difference in their cognitive abilities." In other words, previous studies highlighted problems triggered by other factors, such as use of other drugs or drink, or sleep deprivation.

But the drug still posed risks, he said. "Ecstasy consumption is dangerous because illegally made pills often contain contaminants that can have harmful side-effects."

HIGHS AND LOWS

1912 First synthesis of MDMA by a German chemist, Anton Kollisch, who worked for the giant Merck company.

1970 The drug is first detected in tablets seized on the streets of Chicago.

1977 UK makes MDMA a Class A drug.

1984 Term 'ecstasy' coined in California.

1985 MDMA becomes a Schedule 1 controlled substance in the US. In the UK the street price is £25.

Mid1980s Raves become increasingly popular, spreading out from the centres of London and Manchester

1988-89 Raves, electronic dance music and ecstasy lead to a second "summer of love". First recorded ecstasy-related death in UK.

1995 Essex schoolgirl Leah Betts, 18, dies after taking ecstasy.2000 British Crime Survey finds the proportion of 16-29 -year-olds who have taken ecstasy is 12%.

2003 6,230 people found guilty, cautioned or fined for ecstasy-related offences

2005 In a survey of 500 Edinburgh students, 36% said they had taken ecstasy. Of those, 75% considered ecstasy a "positive force".

2011 The street price is now between £3 and £8.

*double drops*

Oranage2

Ecatasy however is gauranteed

To make you act like a spastic!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Tell that to politicians and they'll just stick their fingers in their ears.

TheZohanS

This:

"Ecstasy consumption is dangerous because illegally made pills often contain contaminants that can have harmful side-effects."

It's the crap they press it with that will mess you up, plus if you're going to take "e" you need to follow a pretty strict health regime so you don't mess up your body. It's the same with cocaine.

wolfpawnat

I don't think the main drugs are the harmful part, just the shít they are mixed with, if I am not mistaken! (which I may)

Kasabian

Mate drops 1 E, has a great night, dances, laughs and has good time.
Fast forward 6 months mate is dropping 8 to 10 E's .
Fast forward 12 month's mate is in looney bin as he has lost touch with reality.

Kasabian's conclusion Ecstacy does harm some people. Report findings are questionable in this test case.

padi89

mitsubishis ftw ... ... ... ...

RichieC

more chance of dying eating peanuts or choking on a sprout. it's hilarious that because something makes you high people lose their minds and rationality when assessing danger.

Spudmonkey

TheZohan wrote: »

This:

It's the crap they press it with that will mess you up, plus if you're going to take "e" you need to follow a pretty strict health regime so you don't mess up your body. It's the same with cocaine.

+1 to this. Ecstasy may/may not be grand. It's the horse tranquilliser that will get ya.

Kasabian

RichieC wrote: »

more chance of dying eating peanuts or choking on a spout. it's hilarious that because something makes you high people lose their minds and rationality when assessing danger.

Is that slang for cock?

RichieC

Kasabian wrote: »

Is that slang for cock?

lol, well yes, but i meant sprout ;p

Plug

Safer than horse riding too. Great yokes they are!

DublinWriter

Most people who reportedly die 'due to Ecstasy' actually die because of the huge amount of water they imbibe.

Too much water in one sitting is fatal. For example, google the controversy over the person who died during a water drinking competition on a radio station in the states when the Nintendo Wii was launched, or the infamous Leah Betts case in the UK.

...then call Joe Duffy on Monday, "Joe...the water...it's killin are childers!"

partyatmygaff

RichieC wrote: »

more chance of dying eating peanuts or choking on a spout. it's hilarious that because something makes you high people lose their minds and rationality when assessing danger.

When taken in moderation it does not pose a serious or immediate health risk. The problem is that the effects weaken over time and users tend to increase the dosage to counteract the decreased effect. That and people who abuse drugs generally have little in the way of moderation. It is people's lack of sense and control that makes most drugs dangerous.

RichieC

DublinWriter wrote: »

Most people who reportedly die 'due to Ecstasy' actually die because of the huge amount of water they imbibe.

Too much water in one sitting is fatal. For example, google the controversy over the person who died during a water drinking competition on a radio station in the states when the Nintendo Wii was launched, or the infamous Leah Betts case in the UK.

...then call Joe Duffy on Monday, "Joe...the water...it's killin are childers!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkcxSWErLvA

epgc3fyqirnbsx

It's the day after that'll kill ya

NeedaNewName

MDMA is OK but it is the other sh1te they put in pills/drugs that does a lot of the harm.

My short term memory is bollixed. I have however astutely invested money in medical type investments because I have a feeling there will be a lot of fuked up people in the future who were giving it sox to JX son of a gun in Bagleys, London in the early 90's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxsSzPy6WT8

padi89

mitsubishis ftw ... ... ... ...

alandublin15

the brains already damaged before taking it, that obvious.
if people are willing to take brain altering substances that have been mixed by a first year chemistry drop out and his dealer mate from god knows where, using a recipe on the back of a napkin.
then theres no need for further brain damage.

Kasabian

There are a couple of posts already on this thread saying that it is ok.
AH is not the WHO.

There ae young kids that read this forum and advocating drug taking isn't very bright.

TouchingVirus

I've often wondered about E and the effect it has. I'd be interested in trying it, but I'll never get a guarantee that what I'm getting is 100% MDMA and not pressed with ketamine or some other drug so I don't think I'll ever take it.

I've never heard of somebody dying immediately from taking a drink of alcohol, a cigarette or a few drags of a joint. But I've heard of people dying from dropping 1 tab.

It's enough to put me off anyways

pragmatic1

padi89 wrote: »

mitsubishis ftw ... ... ... ...

Speckled ones.

NeedaNewName

Kasabian wrote: »

There are a couple of posts already on this thread saying that it is ok.
AH is not the WHO.

There ae young kids that read this forum and advocating drug taking isn't very bright.

Indeed.

This is the WHO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydAs5bRW1U

Kasabian

NeedaNewName wrote: »

Indeed.

This is the WHO

Predictable.

ghostdancer

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've often wondered about E and the effect it has. I'd be interested in trying it, but I'll never get a guarantee that what I'm getting is 100% MDMA and not pressed with ketamine or some other drug so I don't think I'll ever take it.

I've never heard of somebody dying immediately from taking a drink of alcohol, a cigarette or a few drags of a joint. But I've heard of people dying from dropping 1 tab.

It's enough to put me off anyways

dying from "dropping 1 tab" is almost impossible. the vast majority of people who have died after taking 1, have died because of reactions which could happen with any legally bought medicine, or their own stupidity.

and a more comparable situation would be someone dying after getting hammered on a night out.

RichieC

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've never heard of somebody dying immediately from taking a drink of alcohol, a cigarette or a few drags of a joint. But I've heard of people dying from dropping 1 tab.

This is rare, like winning the lottery rare.

ghostdancer

alandublin15 wrote: »

the brains already damaged before taking it, that obvious.
if people are willing to take brain altering substances that have been mixed by a first year chemistry drop out and his dealer mate from god knows where, using a recipe on the back of a napkin.
then theres no need for further brain damage.

ah, the ignorance around drugs continues...

Plug

As I said before just don't take the diamonds. They are probably gone off the market now but boy god were they rough.

RichieC

ghostdancer wrote: »

no-one has ever died from "dropping 1 tab".

I believe it can happen, due to allergy or other adverse reaction to the chemicals, many many more people are killed by paracetamol.

partyatmygaff

ghostdancer wrote: »

no-one has ever died from "dropping 1 tab".

Yes they have.

When you toss some random chemicals you bought off the street in to your bloodstream anything can happen.

Wolfe Tone

Theres enough drunk idiots wobbling around the place without extra drugged up idiots too

Jimmy the Wheel

Plug wrote: »

As I said before just don't take the diamonds. They are probably gone off the market now but boy god were they rough.

Those Blue Diamonds about at the minute are clean as a whistle, and strong.

Circa 135mgs.

Party on!

RichieC

Jimmy the Wheel wrote: »

Those Blue Diamonds about at the minute are clean as a whistle, and strong.

Circa 135mgs.

Party on!

hehehe...yes they are.

pragmatic1

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Theres enough drunk idiots wobbling around the place without extra drugged up idiots too

I'd take pill heads over drunks any day of the week.

Wolfe Tone

pragmatic1 wrote: »

I'd take pill heads over drunks any day of the week.

What about drunk pillheads?

RichieC

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

What about drunk pillheads?

80% less likely to try and kick your face off.

ghostdancer

RichieC wrote: »

I believe it can happen, due to allergy or other adverse reaction to the chemicals, many many more people are killed by paracetamol.

yeah, i edited my post to clarify that it's as a result of other factors really. didn't word it properly.

padi89

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Yes they have.

When you toss some random chemicals you bought off the street in to your bloodstream anything can happen.

Don't think that has ever happened but im open to correction. Anytime i have read reports it always a cocktail of drugs, even alcohol ... But sure alcohol isn't a drug?

alandublin15

ghostdancer wrote: »

ah, the ignorance around drugs continues...

no youre right, i forgot they're carefully manufactured to agreed regulated industry standards.

RichieC

padi89 wrote: »

Don't think that has ever happened but im open to correction. Anytime i have read reports it always a cocktail of drugs, even alcohol ... But sure alcohol isn't a drug?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tdcGmBefM

Hank Scorpio

Whatever about brain damage, a friend of a friend had a heart attack after taking yolks, and hes only 23

He did them regulary tho, every weekend

Jimmy the Wheel

RichieC wrote: »

hehehe...yes they are.

That photo in my avatar was taken of me on a Blue Diamond.

:pac:

Kasabian

Another stupid "drugs are good" "no drugs are bad" thread.

I'll be back in a few hours to check on ye :pac:

syklops

ghostdancer wrote: »

dying from "dropping 1 tab" is almost impossible. the vast majority of people who have died after taking 1, have died because of reactions which could happen with any legally bought medicine, or their own stupidity.

and a more comparable situation would be someone dying after getting hammered on a night out.

A friend of mine died after taking half a tab. Fail argument is fail.

Gunsfortoys

You can enjoy anything as long as it is in moderation.

partyatmygaff

alandublin15 wrote: »

no youre right, i forgot they're carefully manufactured to agreed regulated industry standards.

The '98' standard. 98% of it is guaranteed to be fillers of varying levels of toxicity.

ghostdancer

nuxxx wrote: »

Whatever about brain damage, a friend of a friend had a heart attack after taking yolks, and hes only 23

He did them regulary tho, every weekend

my friend had a brain haemorrhage after a night on the piss.

only drank about once a month though.

TheZohanS

nuxxx wrote: »

Whatever about brain damage, a friend of a friend had a heart attack after taking yolks, and hes only 23

He did them regulary tho, every weekend

syklops wrote: »

A friend of mine died after taking half a tab. Fail argument is fail.

Underlying health problems tm.

ghostdancer

syklops wrote: »

A friend of mine died after taking half a tab. Fail argument is fail.

yes, your anecdotal story beats pretty much all scientific and anecdotal evidence out there. :rolleyes:

what did they die of?

saywhatyousee

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've often wondered about E and the effect it has. I'd be interested in trying it, but I'll never get a guarantee that what I'm getting is 100% MDMA and not pressed with ketamine or some other drug so I don't think I'll ever take it.

I've never heard of somebody dying immediately from taking a drink of alcohol, a cigarette or a few drags of a joint. But I've heard of people dying from dropping 1 tab.

It's enough to put me off anyways

look for camels there 93% pure thats the best your goin to find everywhere there deadly nothing the next day not even a hangover lol

im invisible

padi89 wrote: »

... But sure alcohol isn't a drug?

:pac:oooo