ECSTASY STUDY SHOWS RISK OF BRAIN DAMAGE

A single ecstasy tablet shuts down part of the immune system, and two or
three will permanently damage certain brain cells, a new study of the
dangers of taking the drug has found.

The study, carried out at University College Galway, showed that regular
users were "highly likely" to suffer from depression and a weakened immune
system as a result of the toxic effects of ecstasy.

Prof Brian Leonard, of UCG's Department of Pharmacology, began his research
into the drug five years ago, focusing on its long-term effects on the
brain and its short-term effects on the immune system. "The popular belief
that ecstasy is a safe substance is a very dangerous concept", he said.
"People see it as a love drug and think that it is OK, but it is insidious.
We do not really know what young people are doing by taking it."

Prof Leonard said there was a severe shortage of funding for research into
the abuse of ecstasy, cannabis and alcohol. "Further funding must be
provided if we are to understand the toxic implications of this and other
drugs."

In the past three years, up to 20 people have died in Ireland from taking
ecstasy.

Referring to several cases of death from ecstasy, Prof Leonard said that
the victim had become very physically active in a crowded situation, which
resulted in excessive sweating. This affected blood volume and the
secretion of salt by the body, which could result in sudden death.

The excessive sweating also induced severe thirst, which could lead to
water intoxication. "If a person drinks several litres to quench the
thirst, the blood volume increases dramatically, leading to heart failure.
The argument often put forward that ecstasy victims 'had heart trouble
anyway' was therefore invalid", he said.

Ecstasy also released noradrenaline in the brain, which increased a
person's drive and motivation - as witnessed at raves - and dopamine, which
induced a sense of euphoria in the user. However, according to Prof
Leonard, it took only
one or two ecstasy tablets for the nerve terminals containing serotonin to
become depleted, which could result in depression.

"None of us knows how mentally normal we really are, and some of us can be
predisposed to anxious and depressive states without being aware of it. The
fact is that ecstasy depletes our neurotransmitters and can trigger
psychotic and depressive states. It is therefore very dangerous to mental
health."

Prof Leonard said that aspects of the immune system also became permanently
damaged. "Ecstasy is therefore undermining the physical and mental health
of young people."

He predicted that a lot of the teenage users of ecstasy would experience
depression in their 20s and would not have the normal resistance to
infections. "Our studies show the damage after just one dose. The immune
system does recover, but what are the long-term consequences if you take it
every weekend at
raves?"