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To the Editor: Judging from the content of Mr Vastag's Medical News & Perspectives article,¹ it appears that he missed the big-picture message from the 60 researchers who presented the latest science findings on MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine; "ecstasy") at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The overarching message from this international conference with over 500 attendees was that MDMA is quite dangerous both in the short term and in the long term.

There is substantial scientific and clinical evidence to show that MDMA damages brain cells, which may account for the long-lasting behavioral effects that users report, such as memory loss and mood changes. Admittedly, there is still much that is not known about the consequences of using this drug; however, the conclusion from this NIH conference is that ecstasy is clearly anything but benign. Because of its stimulant properties MDMA can dangerously increase heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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Ecstasy Experts Want Realistic Messages
Brian Vastag
JAMA. 2001;286(7):777.
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