NEW RESEARCH EXPLODES THE MYTH OF 'SAFE' ECSTASY USE

THE belief that the drug Ecstasy is safe is a dangerous myth and users are
at high risk of suffering from depression as well as lowering their
resistance to
infection and cancer, new Irish research revealed yesterday.

Professor Brian Leonard of the Department of Pharmacology, UCG, said it
takes only one or two Ecstasy tablets to leave youngsters suffering
depression in the long term.

As the celebrations for St Valentine's day near and the temptation to use
Ecstasy increases youngsters were bluntly told that it will put their
mental and physical health at risk.

"More youngsters will be going to parties over the weekend and the message
is that this is not a drug to be abused. It is insidious in its long-term
effects," he warned.

Serotonin is one of the transmitters in the brain which controls mood which
can result in the pleasing affect associated with this so called "love
drug", he said. However, the drug causes the nerve terminals containing
serotonin to become depleted and this can lead to depression.

Professor Leonard, who has studied the effects of the drug for five years,
looked at its long term impact on the brain and its short term implications
for the immune system. "A single dose of ecstasy shuts down part of the
immune system while two or three will permanently damage brain cells and
trigger depressive states," he warned.

"In several cases of death from the drug, the person has become very
physically active in a crowded situation which results in excessive
sweating. This affects blood volume and the secretion of salt by the body
which can result in heart problems and sudden death," he pointed out.

The excessive sweating can lead to a need to drink a lot of water. If
several litres are drunk the blood volume increases dramatically leading to
heart failure, so the argument that victim had a bad heart anyway has no
substance.

He said some of us can be predisposed to depressive states without being
aware of it. "Ecstasy depletes our neurotransmitters and can trigger
psychotic and depressive states. It is therefore very dangerous."

After several doses, parts of the immune system can become permanently
damaged.

He also voiced opposition to any move to legalise cannabis which he also
blamed for destructive effects on the brain and immune system .

"I am calling on the Government to provide adequate funding for research
into all types of drugs of abuse.

"There is a severe shortage of funding for research into drugs, including
Ecstasy and alcohol. Further funding must be provided if we are to
understand the toxic implications of this and other drugs," he stressed.