Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Source: Big Spring Herald (TX)
Copyright: 2008 The Big Spring Herald
Contact:  http://www.bigspringherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3158
Author: Thomas Jenkins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

ECSTASY DRUG INVADES CITY

Area parents and guardians believing the big city drug  woes are far 
away from their doorsteps may want to  think again, as local law 
enforcement officials report  a recent influx of the drug ecstasy.

Commonly referred to as "X," a quantity of the drug was  recently 
confiscated by the Big Spring Police  Department's Narcotics Unit, 
according to Sgt. Tony  Everett, public information officer for the BSPD.

"Within the past month, the Narcotics Unit executed a  search warrant 
and located 69 dosage units of ecstasy,  and believe it may just be a 
small portion of what is  actually circulating throughout Big 
Spring," said  Everett. "We want to inform and educate local 
residents  - especially parents and guardians - of this influx of  the drug."

Everett said everything - from the drug's appearance to  the 
paraphernalia surrounding it - is aimed at young  people.

"Everything from its name to its physical  characteristics targets 
the younger generation," said  Everett. "Ecstasy is usually found in 
the form of a  tablet or capsule, often with a symbol - 
everything  from cartoon characters to shapes and designs - on 
it.  It occasionally comes as a powder.

"Ecstasy users have discovered certain products can be  used to 
combat the drug's common side effects, such as  jaw muscle tension 
and teeth grinding. They have also  discovered ways to increase the 
sensation from ecstasy  use."

Everett said those products - which can often be found  at parties 
where the drug is being used - can serve as  an early warning to parents.

"Parents need to be aware of these innocent looking  items, which 
could be an indication of ecstasy use or  addiction," said Everett. 
"Pacifiers, lollipops,  florescent light sticks, menthol nasal 
inhalers, Vick's  Vapor Rub eye drops and candy necklaces or 
bracelets are all commonly found at these parties. Each of 
them  either helps relieve jaw muscle tension and teeth  grinding, or 
it increases the stimulation and enhances  the visual effects of the 
drugs. Common objects like  breath mint or gum tins are also being 
used to conceal the pills."

According to Everett, ecstasy is a Schedule 1  synthetic, 
psychoactive drug that possesses stimulant  and hallucinogenic 
properties. Ecstasy contains MDMA  (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), 
which possesses chemical variations of the stimulant amphetamine 
and  methamphetamine and a hallucinogen, most often  mescaline.

The drug is well known for its ability to produce  feelings of 
overwhelming euphoria, a strong sense of  intimacy with others, and 
pronounced overall civility,  and is commonly associated with the 
rave culture and  its related genres of music.

Everett said ecstasy's popularity among the youth has  been fueled by 
the myth it is a safe drug, is not  harmful and doesn't cause drug 
addiction, which the  police sergeant said couldn't be further from the  truth.

"The fact of the matter is the amount of MDMA needed to  get high is 
dangerously close to a toxic dose," said  Everett. "The potential 
dangers of ecstasy abuse  include nausea, hallucinations, chills and 
sweating,  increased body temperature, tremors, muscle cramping, 
muscle breakdown and blurred vision. It's also been  known to cause 
severe dehydration, heat exhaustion,  heart and kidney failure, 
seizures, stroke, brain  damage - and even death."

Everett said the drug is also used to sexually exploit  females while 
they are under its influence.

"And what a lot of people don't understand is there are  long term 
effects the drug can have on the brain," said  Everett. "It actually 
injures the brain in ways that  last long after the user stops taking 
it. A study  showed habitual ecstasy users suffer long-term 
neurological damage, and recreational users may be in  danger of 
developing permanent brain damage. This could  manifest into 
depression, anxiety, memory loss,  neuro-psychiatric disorder and 
drug addiction. Other  evidence suggests ecstasy affects its users in 
ways similar to Alzheimer's disease.

"Also, numerous scientific studies have shown  significant 
impairments in memory and learning in  individuals who have taken 
ecstasy. They indicate the  effect ecstasy use has on the memory 
can't simply be attributed to withdrawal or residual effects, and 
it  could result in persistent memory damage."

The best weapon in the battle against ecstasy use,  according to 
Everett, is good, reliable information.

"Our primary concern has to be for the safety of our  children," said 
Everett. "We want to make sure we get  this information out there and 
in the hands of the  parents and guardians who need it most. If 
anyone has  any questions regarding the drug, they are welcome 
to  contact the police department's Narcotics Unit at (432)  264-2595."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom