'LOW DOSAGE ENOUGH TO KILL NERVE CELLS'

MALACCA: The first symptoms of the incurable Parkinson's disease will show
in a person who takes six Ecstasy pills every week and continues with the
habit for six months.

National Parkinson Foundation Malaysia president Datuk Setia Dr J.P. Tan
said the substances contained in the pills are so toxic that even such a low
dosage would be enough to destroy nerve cells which transmit messages from
the brain to other parts of the body within a short period of time.

"A person who takes two Ecstasy pills for three nights in a week will start
to experience tremors or uncontrollable shaking of the hand, arm, legs, feet
or chin, or all of these between six months and a year,'' he said yesterday
after a talk on the disease organised by the foundation, TJB Trading Sdn Bhd
and Equatorial Hotel.

The talk was part of the foundation's nationwide tour to promote awareness
about the disease and to offer financial assistance and support for those in
need.

Tan said the abuse of Ecstasy and other drugs had contributed to the present
trend in Malaysia where Parkinson's disease sufferers were getting younger,
with about 20% below the age of 35.

"There are over 8,000 sufferers in this age category and that is a very
alarming number for a disease which is mainly experienced by those above 55.

"We may soon get a generation of young people with a high percentage of
Parkinson's disease,'' he said, adding that the youngest victim reported in
Malaysia so far was 22 years old.

There has been a marked increase in the number of sufferers of the disease
over the last two years, just about the time when Ecstasy pills were
introduced here, said Tan.

He urged those with even the slightest symptoms to get medical treatment to
control the disease which also causes muscle stiffness, loss of balance,
constipation and depression.