Did uyou watch the special on ABC 4/1/04?  Any opinions/stories?

I have a family member who is in charge of the medical side for a huge drug and alchol treatment program. (one of the best) He has told me first hand the effects of X. He is pretty convinced that it is a pretty bad thing.

I am no angel or cannot say that I have never taken an illicit drug in my life, but for me, the smell, feel and taste of a woman is all the high that I need. I don't or won't tell others what to or not to do, but for me I can't see the benefits of taking X.

X is a addictve drug.  The user soon gets to the point that they cant' enjoy life uless they are on the drug.

It dumps out all off your neurotransmitter and its not clear how much is recycled back. Nobody is going to volunteer to have their synapses radioactively labeled, so its hard to image this and neurotransmitters aren't easily quantified, they are measured in a unit called quanta which means roughly (a packet"). Its common knowledge that the level of joy that you experienced before taking ecstacy is mostly likely higher than what you might achieve afterwards. The neurotransmiter may never be recycled completely back.

Of course, since you didn't believe my story about the serial killer in my neighborhood just because its not on T.V., (see L.A. Board) I don't expect you to believe this either. Have a good trip. Some people only learn through direct experience.

from what I have personally seen in people who took X on a semi-regular basis, it does seem to change their personality. It's like they lose some ability to pick up on subtle social cues or something, they have a harder time finding the appropriate social tone with people they don't know well... is that a brain change or a change in social perspective from being with other X'd out folk ??? It can be offputting, annoying, or causes you to raise your guard slightly, as if they don't exactly understand where the boundaries should be. What's good at the rave may not be so good in a formal setting.

OUCH Michelle!  LOL

I was only curious to know what people think about ecstacy, especially after the controversial special that was on ABC last night with Peter Jennings. I've never personally tried the drug, nor do I plan to, but it was interesting that so many argue that it IS safe.

Regarding the serial killer...my disbelief was not a direct insult towards YOU.  I was suggesting that you might investigate your source of information a little further.  In addition to conversing with a trusted family member about it (a retired policeman that spent 24 years with the dept) I also contacted  the FBI @ (202) 324-3*** and again, came up with nothing. Venice Beach police has had no such reports made either.  I think that perhaps someone has played a tasteless April Fool's joke.

So Racquel what's the latest status?

it really f**ks you up!

But the Peter Jennings report last night about this was very interesting. I've never done ecstasy, and have always believed exactly what you say. Now I'm not sure at all. There is very little real evidence to suggest that it's bad, and some to suggest that it's good, but it seems that overall, the jury is still out.

I'm pretty sure this thread was a comment about the show... Take it easy, it's a message board

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Primetime/ecstasy_040401-1.html

It was an interesting report either way, tho I still don't think I'm going to run off and try it.

Best,
Tamara

It's not even safe to take ASPIRIN if you're pregnant. What's that got to do with the discussion about ecstasy?

*blink*

Must be a blonde moment on my part!

Best,
Tamara

Missy-  

Racquel in O is due pretty soon- but she's a pretty together lady in that regards, so I think my learned collegue was just fishing for some news...

Did X in the 80s- Thought it was crap- made my bad back WORSE- moved on...

I bet at least 70% of folks are in my category BTW- try it and move on.  But the ones who like that "I love everyone" feeling?  Hooked.

I NEVER said that I was going to TAKE ecstasy while I was pregnant!!!! OMG!!!! Read the post again.  You're comment is totally off base.

Let's dump it in the water supply in "Palestine".

Physically the drug is very tough on your body. If I took a full pill, it made me nauseated and I'd have to go throw up in the ladies room at the club (this is not unusual--happened to other girls I knew).

Ecstasy keeps you up all night long, your heart can pound wildly, and you get a very dry mouth. You may feel hung over for a day or two, and you also you have sore jaws and chewed up inner mouth (from unknowingly clenching your teeth so much.)

Sex is very intense and passionate; you feel extremely close emotionally to your partner (and to all your friends at the party); you will be open to sexual positions or ideas you never thought of before. Men, however, have a hard time achieving orgasm.

After the hang-over and buzz wore off, I did not continue to have the same intense feelings for my partner or feel that I loved the world and all my friends. I'm surprised to hear that some people still feel that way after the drug wears off.

I can understand how people have died from over-exerting themselves (hyperthermia); or people with previously unknown heart problems can develop an arrhythmia and collapse.

Overall, I had some pleasant experiences when I tried it a few times, and there is no question the sex was dynamite, but the physical side effects and the long hangover, sore mouth and the safety concerns are not worth it for me.

If someone wants a nice, relatively "safe" buzz, stick to alchohol or weed.

Basically the story was a condemnation of the scare tactic propaganda that the goverment is putting out. I'm not saying E is a good thing, just that this tactic has been tried and failed in the past. Remember "Reefer Madness". Distorting facts is not an effective way of dealing with this.
Where is the evidence that it permanently alters seratonin reuptake? I would hazard a guess that most if not all psychoactive drugs alter neurotransmitter release or reuptake. Don't get me wrong I don't use E and I don't recommend using it, I just don't like to see 1/2 truths presented as facts.

-- Modified on 4/3/2004 11:58:57 AM

Re: nM's cure for depression post below:  Yeah, like chugging a fifth of scoth is a cure for a hang over.

Heh, my impression (after having seen the documentary and also having done some research a while back) is that the drug, like all substances, is going to have negative side effects, probably greater than those of (for example) marijuana use, probably less than those of (for example) a lifetime of alcohol ABuse.

But the important point to me, is that the government closed it down with only scant evidence, if any. They just "decided" they didn't like all these happy-go-lucky people walking around with a happy-go-lucky pill, it made their little tight asses pucker up and get even more painful, to see people living life "loose" and "free." So they shut it down.

Pity, really. Just like the history of marijuana, in many ways. But as long as they're wasting their money shutting down stuff I don't do, like marginally (or extremely) harmful drugs, then I don't complain, they aren't wasting their money shutting down stuff I DO, like driving or playing poker.

Synapses cannot be isotopic labeled because they are a junction, or a gap, across which neurotransmitters pass. space cannot be isotopically labeled.

There is absolutely no evidence that serotonin production is permanently reduced by MDMA use.

Like all drugs, from aspirin to even caffeine, use is generally not dangerous. It is ABUSE of any drug which can become dangerous.

Alcohol can be fatal if you drink 9 shots of 80 proof at one gulp. Yet it is legal. Cannabis is not lethal at ANY dosage, yet it is illegal.

The reasons for the prohibition of SOME drugs is mostly based on racism and corporate greed.

For a good explanation of drug prohibition read:

"Licit and Illicit Drugs"  by Consumer Union

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316153400/qid=1080962123/sr=8-6/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/102-9172066-4538541?v=glance&s=books&n=507846