In the Oct. 24 edition of the Sacramento Bee newspaper, a teenager wrote to the advice columnist for information about the club drug Ecstasy. Everyone she knows uses the drug, the writer reported - and though she's never tried it herself, she's curious, and wants to know about the side effects and how the drug works.

"The drug also has potentially dangerous long-term psychotic effects. Research has shown it may cause confusion and memory loss, depression, anxiety, paranoia, mania, sleeplessness and psychotic episodes. This can occur weeks and even months after the drug has been used."

In addition to long-term dangers, immediate effects of Ecstasy use include erratic heart rate, loss of inhibitions, over-heating and dehydration (which can be so severe that it causes seizures.) Source: The Sacramento Bee

Labels: drug_abuse, ecstasy, side-effects