Rave Drug Ecstasy Causes 'Lasting Changes in Brain' Says New Research

By Dennis Romero Mon., Dec. 12 2011 at 1:43 PM

Ceasar Sebastian

Ravers.

The stereotype of the e-tard, the raver who uses so much ecstasy he becomes mentally defective, might have some basis in fact.

A Vanderbilt University psychiatry professor concludes in recent research that MDMA, the drug favored at parties here in the rave capital of the nation, "causes lasting changes in brain," according to a school statement.

And those changes aren't, apparently, good. Vanderbilt:

The findings, reported online Dec. 5 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, add to the growing evidence that Ecstasy produces long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity in humans ...

The news comes as research about whether psychedelic drugs, including ecstasy, can be effective for legit medical ailments is seeing a much reported-on resurgence. The Santa Cruz-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been raising funds and lobbying for such inquiry for decades. (This author has written about its efforts since the 1990s).

The group is researching the effectiveness of using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans.

Ronald Cowan, the Vanderbilt M.D. behind the study looking into the dangers of E, says it's time to figure out what dosages can lead to permanent brain damage:

It's essential that we understand the risk associated with using Ecstasy. If news keeps coming out that MDMA is being tested therapeutically and is safe, more people will tend to self-administer the drug. We need to know the dose at which this drug becomes toxic.

His work confirms that using the drug regularly seems to deplete serotonin or, as Vanderbilt puts it, ecstasy "produces long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity."

We like to call the brain chemical serotonin happy juice, and it's no coincidence that ecstasy users can complain of debilitating depression and serious loss of memory.

Vanderbilt notes that serotonin regulates "mood, appetite, sleep, learning and memory."

So, just beware, kids. Ecstatic happiness today could lead to sad times later. You're using up all your happy juice. Cowan:

Our studies suggest that if you use Ecstasy recreationally, the more you use, the more brain changes you get.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

drugs, ecstasy, Los Angeles, MAPS, MDMA, raves, Ronald Cowan, serotonin, Vanderbilt

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redshift96

Good lord. Here we go again.

Absolutely zero specifics about the study or it's results, just the same "this is your brain on drugs" line?

If you're savvy enough to be reporting on MAPS, surely you're capable of dishing up something more useful than this tired old trope.

Rodney Shaddai Leon

I've never taken any drugs, but it seems to me that if youre going to study the effects of a drug on things like memory, wouldnt using brain mapping equipment be more effective than using the MEMORIES of a small sample of people who have used several drugs in combination.?

medical weight loss programs

We like to call the brain chemical serotonin happy juice, and it's no coincidence that ecstasy users can complain of debilitating depression and serious loss of memory.

Guyman

I don't think this report is entirely accurate. This study was done with less than 20 women who hadn't used MDMA in 90 days... certainly not a significant amount of time to state the changes are permanent. Even if it is possible that the changes in a person's brain are lasting, there isn't enough evidence that these are damaging.Personally, I have used MDMA nearly a dozen times over the past year and can honestly say I have noticed more positive long term effects than negative (reduced anxiety, generally happier, better relationships, etc.). If taken with care alongside a healthy diet, exercise, and proper supplements to offset the negative effects (anti-oxidants, 5-htp), I believe that this drug can be more helpful than harmful.

j.bles

well...that's just, like, your opinion man

SourShield

This article is really bland and seems composed of more conjecture than fact. In fact, the only thing you cite is " long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity in humans ..."and you seem to carry that quote all the way through the article.

pojut

Folks,

If you're going to use ecstasy, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to check out pillreports.com before you go popping that Mitsubishi or Double-Stack Stop Sign. It's a test results database that will help you determine what's in that pill you bought based on samples that individuals from around the world have anonymously mailed in.

Have fun, and stay safe!

forumula_freddy

From Science Daily, “The message in news reports needs to be accurate.” Misleadingly, neither Cowan nor ScienceDaily acknowledge that illegally purchased Ecstasy used recreationally may or may not contain MDMA, and often contains methamphetamine, ketamine, BZP, caffeine, or other narcotics and stimulants."...."...there’s no way to know whether the observed effects were due to Ecstasy, to another drug, or to something else entirely."

Joe Blow

What's the point?

This was a study on MDMA, which is safer in comparison to meth, ketamine and all that other crazy stuff.This is detailing how much your brain can get messed up doing ecstasy at a BEST CASE scenario.