Ecstasy takes toll on mental health

Most regular ecstasy users experience mental health disorders, a report
disclosed yesterday.

A survey of 469 frequent users of the Class A drug found nearly three
quarters suffer some form of longterm health problems. Mental health
problems are the most common, especially depression and the loss of
concentration.

But despite these worries, only one in 20 said they would not take the
drug again.

The survey, commissioned for BBC Radio 5 Live's 'Young Britain' season,
is thought to be the biggest of its kind.

Research showed people over 30 were more likely to suffer from
depression, and a third link this to taking ecstasy.

It was also found that fear of the onset of depression was a key reason
to stop taking the drug one in three former users said it was the
reason why they kicked the habit.

The findings of another study showed that more than 90 per cent of
Glasgow's dance club population had taken ecstasy.

The study was conducted by Alastair Forsyth of the Centre for Drug
Misuse Research at Glasgow University in 1994.

Mr Forsyth spent a year interviewing clubbers in the city and found of
the 135 he questioned, 123 admitted having taken the drug, which
recently claimed the life of a Lanarkshire schoolboy, Andrew Woodlock.