ECSTASY IN THE LAB, LEGALLY

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first study of the
illegal party drug Ecstasy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress
disorder. Conscious of the need for drugs to treat the disorder after the
Sept. 11 attacks, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic
Studies, a nonprofit group working to have psychedelic drugs approved as
medicines, applied in October for government approval of a study in which
20 people will take Ecstasy during therapy sessions. The theory is that the
drug will reduce fear so patients can talk about the trauma.

Melody Petersen