ECSTASY USE ON THE RISE

College students, specifically rave goers, enjoy the effects of the
psychoactive drug MDM, commonly known as Ecstasy.

According to www.ecstasy.org, the release of rotonin and dopamine in the
brain is key to the emotional high that comes from the drug. "MDMA is a
synthetic, psychoactive drug with both stimulant (amphetamine-like) and
hallucinogenic (LSD-like) properties. Street names for MDMA include
Ecstasy, Adam, XTC, hug, beans and love drug," said the National Institute
on Drug Abuse on their Web site, www.drugabuse.gov. "Its chemical
structure (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, "MDMA") is similar to
methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and mescaline - other
synthetic drugs known to cause brain damage."

Like most drugs, Ecstasy lowers inhibitions and abuse increases the chance
of unplanned sex, which can ultimately result in unwanted pregnancy and the
transmission of STDs.

According to the Web site, users think that club drug substances, such as
Ecstasy are harmless, but in fact produce unwanted side effects such as
hallucinations, paranoia and amnesia. In some cases there has also been death.

"Also there are great differences among individuals in how they react to
these substances and no one can predict how he or she will react," said the
Institute. "Some have been known to have extreme, even fatal, reactions the
first time they use club drugs."

Users of Ecstasy, also called X, Adam and XTC, take the drug to improve
their moods and acquire more energy. The Institute said that chronic
abusers can suffer memory loss, sleep depravation and pain, since the drug
alters the brain's ability to think.

Another risk of using the drug is being misled by its contents.
Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), when taken in low doses produces similar
effects as Ecstasy, said the www.ecstasy.org Web site. However, when taken
in larger amounts the PMA results in increased body temperature and blood
pressure and heart rate.

Deaths in Europe, Australia and the United States have been attributed to PMA.

Additionally, mixing Ecstasy with other drugs can be life threatening.

When Ecstasy is taken with Viagra there is a risk of priapism, a condition
that causes the penis to remain erect even after sexual
stimulation. According to www.ecstasy.org, at least two cases of priapism
have been reported to Pfizer, the makers of Viagra. "The condition is
nasty; it is painful and if left untreated clotting occurs in the erectile
tissue of the penis and serious damage to the anatomy of the penis can
follow," said the Web site.

Though instances of priapism are rare, there are other possible effects
that are more life threatening. It is not completely uncommon for users to
dehydrate from dancing while on the drug or suffer heat strokes, said the
Dance Safe Organization on their Web site, www.dancesafe.org .

Ecstasy is not physically addictive. However, the drug can often take on
great importance in people's lives, and some people become rather
compulsive in their use," said Dance Safe. "Taken too frequently, however,
MDMA loses its special effect."