People who frequently use “party drugs” like ecstasy may be causing serious damage to their brain and memory according to a recent study. The club drug MDMA or ecstacy can cause problems to immediate and short term memory even if it is taken less than once a month over the course of a year. Users may not immediately notice the effects and will most often be unaware of their issues with memory until permanent damage has taken place.
Memory issues caused by ecstasy are associated with damage to the hippocampus which is the area of the brain that is responsible for memory. Those involved in the study used an average of 33 ecstasy pills a year but damage was shown to occur after using only 10 pills in one year. The study raised concerns about the negative and damaging effects of MDMA even when used over a relatively short period of time.
Although memory problems are a major concern, there are other issues that can affect the health of ecstasy users. The drug is often taken in combination with a number of other drugs including alcohol and cocaine. Combining these drugs can be dangerous especially when taken in a party environment where people often get dehydrated and are at risk for all kinds of physiological issues.
Ecstasy also often leads people to engage in risky behaviors that can harm their health such as unprotected sex and driving under the influence The drug can also be highly addictive and the more of it the person consumes, the greater risk they have for damaging their body and brain. Even occasional use of ecstasy can be very dangerous and it can be difficult to reverse the damage caused by the drug.
This new study reveals the harmful effects of ecstasy and the need for users to end even recreational use to preserve their memory and cognitive function.