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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1987)
Ma|| Continued from Page 1 Eighth and lOth avenues is ten tatively scheduled to open to two-way traffic later this year. The plan to reopen Broadway between Oak and Willamette streets wouldn’t be im plemented until 1980 or 19*H). according to a draft of the plan Many of the commissioners expressed apprehension over reopening the streets, especially VV ilia met te St met. "Opening (Broadway! would ruin pedestrian orientation." said Planning Commission President Gerry ('.a yd os Another tnemirer of the plann ing commission, John Vanl-an* dingham. argued against put ting plans for opening the streets on a timetable Such a move would "suggest to the people that that’s the direction we're leaning." Vanl.an dingham said "The faster we move, the more they'll had railroaded " he said. Many people see the mall as llmir favorite park, and Vani-Andingham fears sudden development would upset the public. "You can have a hearing on every part of the street." Schwartz, said of other commis sioners' desire to wait on the issue. The two-hour meeting con vened after the commissioners agreed not to forward the pro posed reopening of Hroadway to the City Council — and to sub ject the matter to more study. The commissioners also agreed to clarify the language defining the length of lime needed for a proper designing process The two commissions will meet again May 26 to review the renewal plans, and further prepare the recommendations they will make In the City Coun cil in July. Photo by Andy C-rtpt (instruction work on the Downtown Mall continues despite problems with access to businesses. ECStdSV Continued Irom Page i Members of the mtHlical com munity hft«e <hallenged this scheduling. tfst ifyinK they perceive minimal harm in carefully monitored use of MDMA to treat psychotic patients. Psychiatrists who ad ministered MDMA to patients before it became illegal contend the drug produces less distor tion of sensory perception and fewer unpleasant emotional reactions than traditional psychedelics. However, researchers and therapists await the results of formal research before assessing MDMA's therapeutic usefulness According to Dan )ohnson. assessment specialist with Sacred Heart's Adolescent Recovery Program (SHARP), alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamines ("crank.” “crystal meth" and s|>eed| art* the throe leadifix substances of abuse for the adolescents he counsels, who art* between the ages 12 and It) He said he has only come across one case of MDA abuse, but has seen nothinx involvinx Ecstasy. "1 don't think it's real ram pant up hem in the Lane (bounty area." Johnson said. I)r lames lackson. director of the University Student Health Canter, also reported a rarity of medical cases involving Ecstasy. He said he susj»eots students who use the drux haven't reached the point where they think they need help Hut two other students who have taken Ecstasy one for several years and the other a newcomer to the drux said use is relatively hixh in Eugene. "kim" and "Stephanie" buy through the same two dealers, although Kim said she could easily Ret the drug from any one of four sources. "It's really kind of scary to buy it because you never know what exactly you're getting. It always looks different.” Kim said. There’s no doubt, however, it's made in local labs, she added, "How else could it be so ac cessible?" she said. Stephanie first tried Kcstasy about a month ago and has since done it once again. She said she liked the drug, but it didn't make her feel too different than her usual mood "It made me feel less in hibited. the same way a lot of drugs do Physically I felt a lit tle more energy, but emotional ly I was more relaxed.” Stephanie said. The second time she did it, she wasn't very aware of the transition from straight to high, she said. “Hhhmm... irregular heartbeat.. .erratic pulse...fainting spells .frequent seizures. This patient looks like a needy recipient for the Pizza Answer Treatment. i$3#99 for any ^ 1 item 12" pizza I- 1 free 32 oz. pop Good Wed. May 13. 1987 only NAMI PMONI one coupon per pint good Wednesday only 687-8600 1432 Orchard Eugene Pepsi. Diet Pepsi. Dr. Pepper 7-UP or Root Beer OPEN FOR LUNCH "It creeps up on you. then ’Boom,' you're high.” Kim said, who estimates she's taken Ecstasy more than 20 times in the throe years since she first tried it. Kim said Ecstasy has its bad points as well, including a tendency to produce a "drug hangover. " especially when she drinks alcohol while high on it. Ecstasy is actually an analogue of the 1980s and '70s counterculture "love-drug" MI)A. Both are synthetic derivatives of amphetamine. MDMA often is referred to as a "designer" drug, a substance tailor-made for specific uses by chemically altering a controlled substance. While the psychoac tive properties are retained, the molecular structure is changed just enough to avoid prosecu tion under the Controlled Substances Act. In 1970. MI)A was placed on Schedule I of the act. prompting the decline of its use. MDMA appeared on the streets shortly after, its use rising sharply in the past few years, according to a 1988 report in the journal of Drug Education. According to the report. MDMA is popular for three basic reasons: • MDMA's side effects are less troublesome than those of MDA; • MDMA has a greater perceived euphoric and ' * 7m S*C4*J j«UM 4tM& *74m/m # 00 Maf 14-16, 23-25. 26-30 Qt+ UJmU. eeJt 666-4191 lyaktU 32.50 therapeutic use; • and the illegality of MDA probably drew users to MDMA. The report also stated that MDMA is incorrectly con sidered an aphrodisiac among college students, some of the drug's most devout users. The drug yields a dramatic drop in defense mechanisms while increasing empathy for others, the report found. It also cited research main taining both MDA and MDMA enhance the pleasure of touching but interferes with erections in men and inhibits orgasms for both sexes. Troy priced the drug at about $40 to $80 per gram: usually about $60. One gram breaks down into six to 10 doses, each dose about 100 to 150 milligrams. He can sell one dose for $10, he said. A crystalline form, it can be snorted or diluted in water and injected intravenously. But most users take it orally, which produces the longest, smoothest high with the least amount of stimulant effects, the (ournal of Drug Education reported. Besides the intoxicating ef fects. medical research in dicates different doses of the drug usually cause fatigue and possible insomnia after the "coming down.” Miner ampnetamine-like symptoms MDMA produces in clude dilated pupils, a dry mouth, tension in the lower jaw and a tendency to grind the teeth. Other studies are examining the possibility that MDMA causes brain damage, especially disrupting nerve systems that regulate sleep, mood and sexual activity MDMA critics, especially condemning its therapeutic use, claim the drug is associated with rare psychological problems, and sav the potential for dependen cy and abusive patterns must be considered. Additionally, a low (loams liavo been attributed to MDMA, but the deaths were later found to be related to a variety of drug abuses, and the validity of MDMA as a factor in the deaths was seriously questioned. Recycle This Paper _
