ECSTASY RISK TO UNBORN CHILDREN

Women who take ecstasy in the early stages of pregnancy could be putting
their baby at risk, say scientists.

Researchers in the US have found evidence to suggest the drug could cause
behavioural problems or even brain damage in unborn children.

Their theory, published in the journal Neurotoxicity and Teratology, is
based on tests on rats, which were given high doses of the drug.

However, it will add to concerns over the long-term effects of ecstasy.

Clubbing drug

An estimated three million Europeans have taken ecstasy at least once
during their life.

The drug is popular with clubbers. In Britain, an estimated 500,000 people
take ecstasy every weekend.

Surveys suggest that 15% of 16 to 24 year olds have tried the drug compared
to just 1% of those over the age of 35.

There are no reliable figures on how many women take the drug while
pregnant. Anecdotal evidence suggests many women stop taking it as soon as
they find out they are expecting.

However, this opens up the possibility that some women may be putting their
babies at risk without knowing it during the early stages of their pregnancy.

Dr Jack Lipton and colleagues at Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center
in Chicago carried out tests on pregnant rats to try to find out what type
of damage the drug may inflict.

They injected recently pregnant rats with the drug twice a day for six days.

They injected similar amounts of harmless saline in another group over the
same period.

They carried out tests on all of the baby rats 21 days after they were born.

They found that those exposed to ecstasy in the womb had five times more
dopamine neurone fibres in the frontal cortex than the other rats.

The frontal cortex is responsible for planning, impulse control and
attention. High levels of dopamine have been associated with schizophrenia.

They also discovered higher than normal levels of these fibres in the
striatum - an area of the brain associated with movement and reward.

Behavioural problems

In addition, the researchers said these rats had behavioural problems.

They placed ecstasy-exposed rats in a new environment. They found that they
spent much longer exploring and took longer to familiarise themselves with it.

The researchers suggested this may be because they had learning or
attention deficit problems or simply because they were hyperactive as a
result of being exposed to ecstasy in the womb.

The researchers said their findings highlighted the need for doctors to
monitor children who may have been exposed to ecstasy in the womb.

"Our findings show that exposing rats to ecstasy at a time of prenatal
development that correlates with the first trimester in humans results in
lasting changes in brain chemistry and behaviour," they said.

"This research warrants the continued monitoring of children exposed to
this drug."

The UK charity DrugScope advised women who are planning to have children
not to take ecstasy.

"Anyone who is pregnant or is about to become pregnant should not take
ecstasy or any other drug," a spokeswoman said.

"Little is yet known about the effects of heavy, long term use of ecstasy
but there are increasing concerns about the possibility of mental health
problems, especially chronic depression and sustained memory loss."

Lesley King-Lewis, chief executive of Action on Addiction, said: "These
findings are particularly disturbing. Women are often unaware they are
pregnant in the early stages, and may continue to use.

"Research has shown that clubbers are more likely to take part in unsafe
sex than other groups of people. This increases the likelihood of
accidental pregnancy, and therefore intensifies the risk that the unborn
baby will be exposed to ecstasy.

"Although research in rats should always be treated with caution when
applying it to humans, this study highlights the need for better awareness
of the dangers of ecstasy and of safe sex measures."