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Reuters: Study links ecstasy, long-term memory loss
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View this Thread in Original format
| CynepMeH |
:o Ok, file this one under "Drugs are bad, MMMoookay?"
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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- People who take the drug ecstasy are more likely to suffer from long-term memory loss, according to a British study published Thursday.
The study, which surveyed users in Europe, the United States and Australia, found that those who regularly took the dance club drug were 23 percent more likely to report problems with their memory than non-users.
Ecstasy users who also take cannabis were facing a "myriad of memory afflictions," the report said, which could represent "a time bomb" of cognitive problems for later life.
The report, led by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, said short-term memory was affected by cannabis. Despite some high-profile deaths caused by ecstasy, there has been a widespread perception among young users that the drug is safe.
Users say it heightens awareness, intensifies their emotions and makes them feel good. But in extreme cases, ecstasy can cause spikes in body temperatures severe enough to be fatal.
"Users may think that ecstasy is fun and that it feels fairly harmless at the time," said lead researcher Dr Jacqui Rodgers of Newcastle University in Britain. "However, our results show slight but measurable impairments to memory as a result of use, which is worrying."
The survey team based their findings on responses from 763 participants but they also looked closely at a sub-group of 81 "typical" ecstasy users who had taken the drug at least 10 times.
The typical users showed their long-term memory to be 14 percent worse than the 480 people who had never taken ecstasy and 23 percent worse than the 242 who had never taken drugs at all.
Additionally, the typical users made 29 percent more mistakes on the questionnaire form than the people who did not take drugs at all.
"The findings also suggest that ecstasy users who take cannabis are suffering from a 'double whammy' where both their long-term and short-term memory is being impaired," Rodgers said.
The study has been published in the current edition of the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Copyright 2004 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Ok, what was I saying? :crazy: :nervous: :eyes: :rolleyes: :D |
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| TeKnoHe@d2025 |
| The ecstasy used for this study didn't happen to be switched with another drug this time too did it? :p |
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| CynepMeH |
| quote: | Originally posted by TeKnoHe@d2025
The ecstasy used for this study didn't happen to be switched with another drug this time too did it? :p |
I'm sorry - can you repeat the question, I can't remember what you just said.:stongue: |
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| TeKnoHe@d2025 |
| quote: | Originally posted by CynepMeH
I'm sorry - can you repeat the question, I can't remember what you just said.:stongue: |
:stongue: It must affect short term memory as well, since you replied the same minute I posted and still forgot. :p |
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| occrider |
| Actually this article should be filed under "obvious" |
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| failsafe |
| i had no idea e was bad for memory. I knew about the depression stuff. |
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| Boomer187 |
aging is also linked with long term memory loss.
in fact lots of things are, yet we still do them.
but its good to see the bad side of drugs coming out now. |
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| daffodil |
| i, for one, am absolutely shocked. i had no idea. i think we should sue the dealers and whomever owned any property where any pills were made for negligence and conspiracy in manufacturing a dangerous product for sale. |
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| SuperFarStucker |
| quote: | Originally posted by CynepMeH
:o Ok, file this one under "Drugs are bad, MMMoookay?"
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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- People who take the drug ecstasy are more likely to suffer from long-term memory loss, according to a British study published Thursday.
The study, which surveyed users in Europe, the United States and Australia, found that those who regularly took the dance club drug were 23 percent more likely to report problems with their memory than non-users.
Ecstasy users who also take cannabis were facing a "myriad of memory afflictions," the report said, which could represent "a time bomb" of cognitive problems for later life.
The report, led by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, said short-term memory was affected by cannabis. Despite some high-profile deaths caused by ecstasy, there has been a widespread perception among young users that the drug is safe.
Users say it heightens awareness, intensifies their emotions and makes them feel good. But in extreme cases, ecstasy can cause spikes in body temperatures severe enough to be fatal.
"Users may think that ecstasy is fun and that it feels fairly harmless at the time," said lead researcher Dr Jacqui Rodgers of Newcastle University in Britain. "However, our results show slight but measurable impairments to memory as a result of use, which is worrying."
The survey team based their findings on responses from 763 participants but they also looked closely at a sub-group of 81 "typical" ecstasy users who had taken the drug at least 10 times.
The typical users showed their long-term memory to be 14 percent worse than the 480 people who had never taken ecstasy and 23 percent worse than the 242 who had never taken drugs at all.
Additionally, the typical users made 29 percent more mistakes on the questionnaire form than the people who did not take drugs at all.
"The findings also suggest that ecstasy users who take cannabis are suffering from a 'double whammy' where both their long-term and short-term memory is being impaired," Rodgers said.
The study has been published in the current edition of the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Copyright 2004 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Ok, what was I saying? :crazy: :nervous: :eyes: :rolleyes: :D |
On top of the fact that it appears to be a poorly conducted study, it is something nearly everyone who cared already suspected. The link has been there but it's really hard to absolutely prove, like much things with drugs. It's basically appealing to the irrationalists in the world that want to believe drugs are so bad that they should be "banned" from sale, as to where alcohol and cigarettes are okay. It's these same irrationalists that fail to realize what an unsafe environment they subsequently create by banning the production/sale/consumption of drugs. It's a viscous cycle that nobody really benefits from excepted the few who believe in the "percieved" safeties of illegalizing drugs. illegal != bad and legal != good, once somebody can understand that the road to enlightenment is already halfway travelled. :) Aren't you the same person that posted the link to a yahoo! reuters story about how ecstasy causes "genetic mutations"... |
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| djSlain |
| quote: | Originally posted by SuperFarStucker
It's these same irrationalists that fail to realize what an unsafe environment they subsequently create by banning the production/sale/consumption of drugs. |
unsafe? i would think the world would be safer if there was no drugs. no overdoses, no columbian shootouts, less DUIs.
besides, orgasms feel better than highs, and the only people who get high are the ones who cant get no.....stuff
i'm not a doctor, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn |
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| SuperFarStucker |
| quote: | Originally posted by djSlain
unsafe? i would think the world would be safer if there was no drugs. no overdoses, no columbian shootouts, less DUIs.
besides, orgasms feel better than highs, and the only people who get high are the ones who cant get no.....stuff
i'm not a doctor, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn |
Wow, that is such a SOLIDLY thought out post, I'm completely blown away by its' disingenuousness. So, how exactly do you propose to eliminate all drugs from the planet? Oh, that's right, at the moment, it's IMPOSSIBLE. Do you think the DEA just "lets" drugs get into our country? Let me give you a hint: NO. Short of stopping trade with every other country and guarding every square inch of our coastal and land borders it is impossible to stop drug flow into any country, and that happens to include the US.
Why exactly the world would be a better place is another thing I'm quite interested in? Because the weak willed would find something else to waste their lifes away on?
As to your nice little dogmatic comment about orgasms being "better" than drugs, I ask: on what level? Are we measuring pure physical response/pleasure? If so, then I'm almost positive you are wrong. BESIDES, comparing sex and drugs is like.. comparing sex and beer. It's just not a logical comparison :) Note the saying goes "Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll." For one, they aren't mutually exclusive of each other, and they are both things to be enjoyed as seperate entities.
Oh, I almost forgot your completely laudable comment about drug users being people that "can't get none." Uh-huh... I'd really like to know how you came up with that. |
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| {b.s.e.} |
I would never have suspected that chemicals firing off in my brain unnaturally might be connected with brain cell damage. :eek:
That research seems to have come straight off of Oprah, not to be a cynic, but if you are worried after reading that article, you shouldn't be doing drugs. ;) |
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