ECSTASY'S LIE

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of "ecstasy," the designer drug of
increasing popularity on college campuses today, is what medical experts
don't know about it.

And that's frightening, considering its use (like many other illegal
substances) begins in adolescence. It's reportedly the drug of choice among
teen-agers at "raves," all-night dance parties, where ecstasy is widely
available and commonly used.

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug with hallucinogenic effects, which distort
reality and provide a sense of "well-being." Some deaths have been linked to
its use. What limited medical research is available shows a correlation
between the drug's use and learning disabilities.

But ecstasy is so new that nobody knows its long-term effects. What is
apparent, however, is its growing lure. In a Penn State University survey of
drug and alcohol use among students at University Park, designer drugs like
ecstasy came in third right behind alcohol and marijuana. Officials at other
colleges, as well, say they're seeing more cases involving ecstasy.

That young people are turning to yet another potentially dangerous drug as a
means to alter their reality and deal with stress is, in itself, cause for
concern.

College administrators say they are addressing the drug's prominence through
education. The key, however, is reaching young people before they begin
experimenting with this dubious substance. Education and enforcement efforts
must be stepped up in response to ecstasy's lie.