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Ecstasy drains the brain of serotonin, so popping pills every weekend can affect a user's mood, sleep and memory for up to two weeks. The Department of Justice explains that the long-term effects of Ecstasy are still being studied. In 2001, research by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, directly measured the effects of the drug on the human brain. The study revealed that the drug causes damage to the nerve cells that use serotonin to communicate with other neurons in the brain, and that recreational Ecstasy users risk permanent brain damage that may manifest itself in depression, anxiety, memory loss, learning difficulties, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Current research indicates that Ecstasy also affects other neurotransmitter systems, such as dopamine and acetylcholine. It is toxic to human brain cells; there is absolutely no “window of safety” between a dose found in a single tablet sold on the street and the threshold dose that causes brain cell death in humans. While cell death occurs from the first exposure to Ecstasy, its functional effects may not be seen for months.
In addition to the dangers posed by Ecstasy, incidents involving “look-alike” tablets containing substances such as PMA, methamphetamine, and methamphetamine/ketamine are increasing. Tablets containing Ecstasy in combination with other illicit drugs, such as phencyclidine (PCP), have also been encountered. Users are unaware of the dangers posed by these drugs and unknowingly ingest potentially dangerous or even lethal amounts. In 2000 alone, PMA was associated with three deaths in Chicago and six deaths in central Florida.
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