EARLY PROBLEMS LEAD ON TO LATER ECSTASY USE

Children who are anxious or depressed are more prone to being tempted
by the "party" drug ecstasy when they are older, says the British
Medical Journal.

Researchers looked at 1580 children aged between four and 17 in 1983
as part of a long-term study.

The children's emotional state was assessed, such as whether they
were withdrawn, aggressive or delinquent, anxious, had attention
problems and so on.

The same group was reassessed when aged between 18 and
33.

Those with symptoms of anxiety and depression were twice as likely to
use ecstasy later. There is a link between ecstasy and emotional
problems, but it has been unclear whether these problems lead to the
drug, whether the drug causes the problem, or both.

Troubled children are vulnerable because it offers feelings of
euphoria and relaxation.

Such forms of ecstasy-taking are "self-medication", when users take
the drug to feel better. But the users could be making their troubles
worse.

Ecstasy has toxic effects on specific brain cells and many users
suffer phobias, panic attacks and a mood slump from it.

Ecstasy - lab name 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA -
releases serotonin, a brain chemical.

Serotonin activates brain cells associated with comfort, well-being,
tactile sensitivity and empathy.

The drug first appeared at dance parties in the Netherlands in
1985.

However, by 2001, it was used by nearly one in seven people in the
20-24 age group.