THE LINK BETWEEN METH AND ECSTASY

Many people are using the drug Ecstasy believing it is a harmless
party drug; the fact is it comes with some very serious side effects.

Continued use of Ecstasy depresses the natural release of serotonin,
which causes depression, Ecstasy can easily lead to death by inducing
extreme hyperthermia and dehydration.

Ecstasy is part amphetamine and part hallucinogen and is far from
harmless, lab reports confirm that some of the drugs seized at parties
or dances that were sold as Ecstasy were, in fact, crystal meth.

Ecstasy has been directly linked to numerous deaths by overdose and by
suicide. Ecstasy harms neurons that release serotonin, a brain
chemical that plays an important role in regulating mood, memory and
other functions.

When a person uses Ecstasy it causes significant damage to the brains
serotonin transporters and when the Ecstasy wears off users have been
known to experience deep and sometimes fatal depression.

Ecstasy also damages the frontal lobes of the brain; the frontal lobes
play an important part in peoples impulse control, judgment, language,
memory, motor function, problem solving, sexual behavior,
socialization and spontaneity.

It is reported that regular Ecstasy users will be so brain damaged at
thirty years of age that they will have all the symptoms of an
Alzheimer's patient and will require round the clock care.

There are additional matters Ecstasy users should be aware of, it is
reported that Paramethoxyamphetamine has been found in at least 26
variations of Ecstasy tablets that are on the market today.

Paramethoxyamphetamine, also known simply as PMA is a hallucinogenic
stimulant that increases the heartbeat and raises the body
temperature; causing agonizing convulsions and can very easily cause
death.

This drug is also being sold as Ecstasy or "E" and the main targets of
the dealers are young people.

Health Canada considers PMA one of the most dangerous hallucinogens in
the world.

It doesn't have the same initial intensity as Ecstasy, so users often
take more pills, causing an overdose of an already dangerous drug.

At high doses PMA often causes convulsions, coma and death. Widespread
bleeding of the brain or internal organs can also occur.

Many young people think the "crusties" they and their friends get on
the corner of their mouths are a natural part of taking Ecstasy.

What is actually happening is your internal organs are starting to
shut down because your body is dangerously overheating.

People who use Ecstasy are taking a gamble every time they consume the
drug, the following case studies took the gamble and lost.

Case 1: A 22-year-old man complained that he was "burning up" and
collapsed after ingesting drugs at a friend's house.

He died soon afterwards at a local hospital, despite attempts at
resuscitation. His core body temperature was 42 C.

Case 2: An 18-year-old man died at his home after ingesting a number
of "Ecstasy" tablets over five hours, both at a dance club and at
home. Two hours after death his core body temperature was 39 C.

Case 3: A 19-year-old man died in hospital 40 hours after being
brought to the emergency department in respiratory arrest with a body
core temperature of 41.6 C.

Case 4: A 14-year-old Victoria girl died the very first time she took
Ecstasy.

So, now that you have all this information, do you think taking drugs
is worth the gamble?

I've heard people say, "I'm not worried, I trust my dealer." Let's be
straight up about drug dealers.

They don't have a clue what's in the drugs they are selling you and
they don't care if you live or die, they just want your money.

Trusting a drug dealer is not a smart idea.

Lee Mason is an addictions recovery specialist and founder of the
young warriors network based in Vancouver.