ECSTASY IS NO PARTY

Ecstasy, although tolerated in the Netherlands [news story, April 15],
is far from benign. Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is claimed to
heighten the senses and produce euphoria. But a federal report states
that its use results in memory problems and may cause confusion,
depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety and paranoia,
sometimes weeks after the drug is taken. A study by Johns Hopkins
University and the National Institute for Mental Health indicates that
the drug may hinder an individual's ability to reason verbally or
sustain attention.

Senate Bill 2612, introduced in Congress last year, calls for stiffer
penalties for those involved in the sale of Ecstasy. It also calls for
greater emphasis on the education of young people regarding the
negative health effects of this drug, which has a reputation of being
"safe."

State and local law enforcement agencies must be educated about the
growing problem of Ecstasy trafficking across the United States. There
is a need for research to identify those most vulnerable to Ecstasy
and to develop science-based prevention approaches tailored to the
specific needs of individuals at high risk.

We need to understand how Ecstasy produces its toxic effects, how to
reverse neurotoxic damage and how to develop treatments.

David G. Evans,
Executive Director,
Drug-Free Schools Coalition,
Flemington, N.J.