Pubdate: Thu, 08 Sep 2005
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Steve Connor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

REGULAR ECSTASY USERS RISK DEPRESSION AND DISEASE

Regular users of ecstasy risk contracting infectious diseases and 
developing long-term psychological problems associated with anxiety and 
depression.

Ecstasy lowers the immune defences of the body and destroys the nerve cells 
in the brain that help to counteract the effects of depression, according 
to Thomas Connor of Trinity College Dublin. "Ecstasy has important 
immuno-suppressive properties so it can dampen down the normal functioning 
of the immune system which has the potential to increase an individual's 
susceptibility to disease," Dr Connor told the British Association Festival 
of Science in Dublin.

"The drug has traditionally been associated with the rave dance club scene, 
a crowded environment where teenagers congregate - optimal for transmitting 
airborne infection between individuals," he said. "Exposure to higher doses 
of ecstasy and longer duration of exposure causes more damage to the immune 
system."

Ecstasy also damages the nerve cells in the brain that produce the 
mood-enhancing neurotransmitter serotonin, an effect that can last for 
years and can lead to anxiety and depression. "It does recover slowly but 
not in the way it should. There's still damage in the long term," Dr Connor 
said. "This could be a predisposing factor to anxiety, depression, 
impulsive behaviour, which are associated with low serotonin."

Ecstasy also destroys the brain cells that are the targets of 
anti-depressants such as Prozac. "This raises the question as to whether 
those people who abuse ecstasy long-term, and do become depressed, will 
then become resistant to existing drugs," he said. "Anxiety and depression 
is already evident in ecstasy abusers."
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