The health effects of ecstasy

The latest research on the wide-ranging health effects of taking 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, will be discussed by researchers from across the globe at Swinburne University this week.

The ‘Psychobiology of MDMA or Ecstasy’ conference has been organised by Professor Andy Parrott, an international authority on the human psychobiology of MDMA from Swansea University in the UK. He is currently a visiting professor at Swinburne.

Ecstasy is an illegal synthetic drug – a powerful stimulant with immediate euphoriant effects. However this euphoria is typically followed by feelings of tiredness and depression during the subsequent period of nervous system recovery.

“When used regularly, ecstasy can lead to a range of problems, including memory deficits, impaired sleep, reduced problem solving ability, and reduced social intelligence,” Parrott said.

In a study conducted by Parrott, young dance clubbers using ecstasy showed an 800 per cent acute increase in the stress hormone cortisol. Regularly exposing the human body to these acute periods of physical stress may contribute to the longer term damaging effects of ecstasy.

“Controlled scientific trials are important in revealing these problems as changes can often be so subtle that many ecstasy users feel that the drug is relatively benign,” Parrott said.

“For instance, the body’s ability to produce a normal immune response is often compromised and oxidative stress levels are often increased which damages body cells and contributes to disease.

“Yet most ecstasy users are not generally aware of these changes, nor of how they are linked with their recreational drug usage.”

(Source: Psychobiology of MDMA or Ecstasy Conference: Swinburne University of Technology: September 2008)