Pubdate: Sat, 25 Feb 2012
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Clara Ho
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

DRUG NOT CONSIDERED THAT ADDICTIVE

The ecstasy drug may be popular for its relatively low cost and 
widespread availability, but its level of addictiveness ranks 
comparatively low.

According to Health Canada, ecstasy or MDMA can be addictive but it's 
rare for people to become physically dependent on the drug.

"People can quickly become tolerant to the effects of ecstasy with 
regular use. It is not uncommon for the drug to take on an 
exaggerated importance in a person's life," according to the 
ministry's website.

Heroin, by comparison, is described by the department as "very 
addictive" with physical dependence developed within two to three 
weeks of regular use.

Methamphetamine is another very addictive drug, says Health Canada, 
adding regular use of cocaine and GHB can also lead to addiction.

George Mcbride, manager of Alberta Health Services' Adult Addictions 
Services Calgary, told the Herald in December that the treatment 
centre admits about 500 new clients per month but only five per cent 
identify ecstasy as a problem.

Ecstasy is usually only one ingredient in the cocktail of drugs that 
addicts take and get hooked on.

Usually, users start with one drug, perhaps ecstasy, and progress to 
others to achieve stronger highs in hopes of solving life's problems, he added.

Users, mostly youths, are currently gravitating toward ecstasy 
because of the type of high they can get for the relatively low cost, 
said Dean Vause, executive director of the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre.

"Kids are going to use what's cheap and what's on the market," he 
said. "The flavour of the month right now is ecstasy and it's dangerous."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom