Ecstasy Use Can Cause Brain Damage

When used even the first time in small amount, the drug called “ecstasy” or MDMA can harm the brain through its neurotoxic effects, according to a recent study. Ecstasy has long been used as a recreational drug, but users may not realize the negative effects it can have on them.

Researchers have discovered through neuroimaging studies that blood circulation can become impaired or decreased in some areas of the brain of first-time users of this psychedelic or stimulant drug, illegal in the U.S. Ecstasy targets brain neurons that use serotonin to regulate a number of mental processes, including mood and memory.

Several earlier studies have shown that heavy use of Ecstasy can damage neurons, resulting in depression, anxiety, confusion, difficulty in sleeping and memory loss. However, recent findings presented in November 2006 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America confirm for the first time that small, initial doses can be damaging to the brain.

Medical investigators initially looked at 188 volunteers with no history of ecstasy use.  Eighteen months later, they compared 59 of the first-time ecstasy users (who took an average of six tablets initially) with 56 non-users. All were retested with the same psychological tests as administered before the study began. In addition, cellular structure and blood flow measurements in the brain were re-examined.

Researchers found subtle changes in cell architecture and decreased blood flow in some brain regions, although no severe damage to the serotonergic neurons that affect mood. First-time, low-dose users demonstrated a decrease in verbal memory when compared with nonusers. It is not yet known whether these effects are temporary or permanent changes.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) survey in 2004 found that 450,000 people in the U.S. who are age 12 and over had tried ecstasy in the past 30 days. NIDA estimated in 2005 that 5.4% of American 12th graders had taken Ecstasy at least once.

This research project is part of the Netherlands XTC Toxicity study which also examines high-dose ecstasy users and is attempting to provide information on long-term effects of ecstasy use in the general population.

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