Is ecstasy a dangerous drug? Review the evidence with particular attention to ho

In this paper I 'm going the asses the level of danger associated with occasional as well as systematic use of MDMA , or 3 ,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine . I 'm going to explore the complex of effects it causes , including cognitive , physical , and psychological with a specific focus on neurophysiologic consequences

This synthetic and psychoactive drug is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline

In 2002 , an estimated 676 ,000 people in the U .S . age 12 and older used MDMA (2002 , HYPERLINK "http /www .drugabusestatistics .samhsa .gov http /www .drugabusestatistics

.samhsa .gov ) The report Ecstasy : What We Know and Don 't Know About MDMA (2001 ,

.4 ) draws our attention to the following fact

Unfortunately , myths abound about both the acute effects and long-term consequences of this drug , also known as Ecstasy ' with many young people believing that MDMA is safe

So there is a clear and consistent need for further research of ecstasy long-term consequences . Montoya , Sorrentino Price 's study (2002 br

.212 ) states the following

Additional research is necessary to determine whether the MDMA-induced destruction of serotonergic neurons can have long-term and possibly permanent neuropsychiatric consequences in humans

General public knows that MDMA is , on rare occasions , lethal . But it 's scarcely informed on the impact ecstasy has on physical health psychological sustainability , and behavioural changes

Montoya , Sorrentino Price in their study investigate the consequences of MDMA chronic recreational use . The main thesis the study is that MDMA damages serotonergic neurons in animals , and the researchers extrapolate the results of these experiments on humans , too . Whether or not this is also true in humans is currently an area of intense investigation . The neurons damaged by MDMA are involved in mood , thinking , and judgment

The report Ecstasy : What We Know and Don 't Know About MDMA (2001 br

.13 ) states the following

MDMA works in the brain by increasing the activity levels of at least three Neurotransmitters .[which are] serotonin , dopamine , and norepinepherine

This report (2001 ,

.6 ) empathizes the danger of the drug

Though the changes in dopaminergic neurons appear transient , the data suggest that the changes in the serotonergic system are longer-lasting

The serotonin system plays an important role in regulating mood aggression , sexual activity , sleep , and sensitivity to pain . So all this areas may suffer significant change after a period of MDMA abuse . The drug , according to the report HYPERLINK "http /www .nida .nih .gov /ResearchReports /MDMA " MDMA Abuse (Ecstasy Research Report (2004 , HYPERLINK "http /www .nida .nih .gov /ResearchReports /MDMA /default .html http /www .nida .nih .gov /ResearchReports /MDMA /default .html , interferes within regions involved in cognition , emotion , and motor function

In high doses , MDMA can interfere with the body 's ability to regulate temperature . This can lead to hyperthermia , resulting in liver , kidney and cardiovascular system failure

Montoya , Sorrentino Price (2002 ,

.216 ) state the following

Adverse neurological and medical effects of acute ecstasy toxicity include sleep deprivation , hyperthermia , cardiac arrhythmias hepatotoxicity , and hyponatremia

MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism , and...