Oklahoman Editorial:

THE AGONY OF ECSTASY

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America reports that about 2.8 million
teenagers have experimented with the drug Ecstasy. Twelve percent of all
teens in this country have at least tried it. That percentage has jumped 71
percent since 1999. Yet only 1 percent of parents thinks their child may
have used the drug, a survey of 1,219 parents nationwide found.

There's always been a gap between what teenagers are doing and what their
parents know about it. But new evidence suggests that parents need to make
sure their teens know that a stimulant like Ecstasy can cause permanent
damage to brain cells.

A new study of monkeys and baboons injected with Ecstasy found the drug
damaged nerve endings in the brain and caused Parkinson's disease-like
symptoms. Studies have shown that using the drug can trigger sleep
problems, depression, confusion, anxiety, impulsiveness, memory loss and
attention problems. Overdose has led to death.

These side effects don't include the young people at "rave" parties who
take a concoction of Ecstasy and other drugs without really knowing what
they're taking, or those who combine Ecstasy with alcohol.

Ecstasy might produce loving feelings and lower social inhibitions for a
few hours, but its effects can last a lifetime. Taking it is not worth the
unknown damage.

More teens have experimented with Ecstasy than cocaine, crack or heroin.
Parents need to be aware of the facts in order to help prevent the
destruction that drugs like Ecstasy cause.