ECSTASY DANGERS ADDRESSED

It's popular with teenagers looking for a cheap high, and is perceived as
being relatively harmless. Contrary to perceptions, the drug ecstasy can
cause permanent brain damage and even lead to death, a medical expert said
Tuesday in a briefing on the dangers of the drug.

Dr. Herman Jones, professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University
of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, spoke during a meeting at the Oklahoma
City office of the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Jones said the drug, typically produced in Europe and popular with young
adults on the club and bar scene, has a seductive effect.

"You feel really good for six to eight hours and then mildly depressed for
about a week," Jones said. "That's the tradeoff."

The long-term tradeoff is that repeated use of ecstasy -- or
methylenedioxymethamphetamine -- can damage the brain, he said.

"You lose additional IQ points," Jones said. "You lose concentration. You
lose the capacity to learn and remember."

Ecstasy causes a rush of the neurochemical serotonin, which in turn
elevates the user's mood, he said. The end result, however, is a burn-off
of the total amount of serotonin in the brain, which leads to depression.

Jones said he has seen the use of ecstasy, known on the street as "X,"
"roll" or "go," increase in the Oklahoma City area.

Robert Surovec, agent in charge of the Oklahoma City branch of the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Agency, said he's seen usage increase in high school and
college students.

"There's a big myth out there that this drug is harmless," Surovec said.
"This is not a harmless drug. It's one of the most devastating drugs we've
come across in the last few years."

Jones said ecstasy can lead to death if the tiny pills -- sometimes a
quarter of the size of a regular painkiller -- are spiked with other drugs
such as methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell called the meeting to discuss the drug and
announce the convictions of four men associated with a large- scale ecstasy
ring in Oklahoma City.

The conspiracy resulted in more than 500,000 ecstasy pills -- which cost
about 50 cents a pill to make and are sold for as much as $30 each --
finding their way into the city, McCampbell said.

All four defendants pleaded guilty.