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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2004)
SWIZZLE 2004 MDMA (Ecstasy) CLUB DRUGS STATISTICS AND INFORMATION ON EVENT “ENHANCING” DRUGS. M Reprinted with permission from www.athealth.com DMA (ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are among the drugs used by teens and young adults who are part of a nightclub, bar, rave, or trance scene. Raves and trance events are generally night-long dances, often held in warehouses. Many who attend raves and trances do not use drugs, but those who do may be attracted to their generally low cost, and to the intoxicating highs that are said to deepen the rave or trance experience. Current science, however, is showing changes to critical parts of the brain from use of these drugs. Although national rates for hospital emergency department (ED) mentions of club drugs were low in 2002 (with none exceeding 2 mentions per 100,000 population) and no increases were measured from 2001 to 2002, significant increases in certain club drug mentions were apparent from 1995 to 2002. MDMA ED mentions, for example, increased from 421 in 1995 to 4,026 in 2002; and GHB ED mentions increased from 145 in 1995 to 3,330 in 2002.* MDMA (3-4 methylene- dioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Street names for MDMA include “ecstasy,” “XTC,” and “hug drug.” Drug use data sources for 21 metropolitan areas nationwide indicate that MDMA, once used prima- rily as a club drug, is being used in a number of other social settings.** In high doses, MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate tempera- ture. This can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in liver, kidney, and cardiovas- cular system failure. Because MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), potential- ly harmful levels can be reached by repeated drug use within short intervals. Research in humans suggests that chronic MDMA use can lead to changes in brain function, affecting cognitive tasks and memory. MDMA can also lead to symptoms of depression several days after its use. These symptoms may occur because of MDMA’s effects on neurons that use the chemical serotonin to com- municate with other neurons. The sero- tonin system plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. In addition, users of MDMA face many of the same risks as users of other stimu- lants such as cocaine and ampheta- mines. Research in animals links MDMA exposure to long-term damage to sero- tonin neurons. A study in nonhuman pri- mates showed that exposure to MDMA for only 4 days caused damage to sero- tonin nerve terminals that was evident 6 to 7 years later. While similar neurotox- icity has not been definitively shown in humans, the wealth of animal research indicating MDMA’s damaging proper- ties suggests that MDMA is not a safe drug for human consumption. DUCKS EXPERIENCE JOIN US FOR LADIES NIGHT ON TUESDAYS & ALSO JOIN US FOR THIRSTY THURSDAYS 115 COMMONS DR. EUGENE • 541-349-0707 www.eugeneweekly.com Full Bar Organic Café Mam Coffee Organic Menu for Lunch & Dinner Wireless Internet Locally Owned & Operated MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM JOIN US FOR A TOTAL MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM MM MM MMMM MMMM MMMMMM 13th & M Oak (formerly Field’s) • 434-6553 SWIZZLE APRIL 1, 2004 9
