ECSTASY IMMEDIATELY DAMAGES MEMORY

Ecstasy Affects Visual Recognition Abilities

Even short-term use of Ecstasy can damage the memory, researchers have
found.

A study by scientists at the University of Cambridge and the University of
East London showed Ecstasy users performed worse in tests than people who
used other drugs.

The researcher who led the study said her findings, and other evidence about
long-term problems caused by Ecstasy use, meant the drug should not be
reclassified from Class A to Class B, as a Home Office committee has
suggested.

But campaigners for DrugScope said it was hard to determine whether the
results of this and other similar studies were significant.

The research team studied 40 adults between the ages of 18 and 48.

All had used a variety of drugs including cocaine, LSD, cannabis and
amphetamine.

Half used Ecstasy regularly, taking an average of 170 tablets over a
four-year period, and half had never used it.

'Significant effects'

They were set a series of tests usually used to identify cognitive problems
in neurosurgical patients or patients with dementia.

Ecstasy users had significant problems in memory and visual recognition
tests.

Dr Barbara Sahakian, reader in clinical neuropsychology in the Department of
Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, told BBC News Online: "These
findings of memory problems due to Ecstasy use should raise concerns,
particularly since the group studied were only early-stage and not long-term
users."

These are relatively young users, some were as young as 18.

"We found Ecstasy had significant effects.

"These are young people who should be going on to higher education or in
jobs and learning skills - and they have these cognitive impairments."

Dr Sahakian said she did not back declassification.

"It's not just our work, but based on the evidence that I think is very
strong, I don't think it's is a good idea."

Dr Sahakian and her team are now looking at how people who have stopped
taking Ecstasy are affected.

Roger Howard, chief executive of the charity DrugScope said: "We have had a
number of studies such as these that show some impact on the brain from
taking ecstasy, but it is hard to come to any conclusions about whether or
not the results are significant.

"DrugScope has long argued that there is no such thing as a harmless drug,
whether legal or illegal - and we would not want studies such as these to
derail sensible debate and detailed investigations about the current legal
position of ecstasy."

He added the home secretary should refer the matter of declassification to
the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs as happened with cannabis, so
drug experts, scientists and doctors can make the decision on the basis of
the evidence.

Mr Howard added: "The question is not whether Ecstasy is dangerous, the
question is whether it deserves a class A rating placing it alongside drugs
like Crack and Heroin."

The research is published in the journal Psychopharmacology.