Ecstasy

New research by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that, just like MDMA (Ecstasy), the active compounds in “bath salts” — mephedrone and methylone — bind to monoamine transporters on the surface of some neurons. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the brain chemicals serotonin, and, to a lesser extent dopamine, suggesting a mechanism that could underlie the addictive potential of these compounds. The study was published last week in Neuropsychopharmacology.

Following a decade of steady declines, a new national study released this week by The Partnership at Drugfree.org indicates that teen drug and alcohol use is headed in the wrong direction, with marked increases in teen use of marijuana and ecstasy over the past three years.

Ecstasy is on the rise in teens and young adults, according to a new Drug Abuse Warning Network study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As a direct result, visits to emergency rooms have increased from 10,222 in 2004 to 17,865 in 2008, up 74.8 percent.

In order to prevent drug use, we need to know what's out there and what's coming next. We know methamphetamine, marijuana, and prescription drugs are problems, but what about K2, heroin, bath salts, and ecstasy? There are always new threats to learn about and some older drugs are making a comeback. During an upcoming CADCA TV broadcast "Emerging Drug Trends," see what's going on now, and what's on the horizon from people in-the-know. The show airs Feb. 24 from 1-2 p.m. EST. It can be viewed on demand anytime beginning Feb. 24th.

The 2010 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey, released this week by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the University of Michigan, showed an increase in marijuana use rates among all grades measured in the survey, 8th, 10th and 12th graders. Particularly concerning are that more youth report smoking marijuana on a daily basis, with 6.1 percent of high school seniors, 3.3 percent of 10th graders, and 1.2 percent of 8th graders reporting daily use, compared to last year’s rates of 5.2 percent, 2.8 percent, and 1.0 percent, respectively. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980's. The perceived risk of regular marijuana use also declined among 10th and 12th graders, suggesting that marijuana use among youth may continue its upward trend.

Current users of ecstasy — those using about two tablets of the drug monthly — had lower levels of serotonin transporter (SERT) in the cerebral cortex of their brains, according to Canadian researchers who successfully replicated a smaller study from Johns Hopkins University.

Have you ever forgotten to post an important letter or let an appointment slip your mind? A new study from UK researchers suggests that for those who regularly use ecstasy or other recreational drugs, this kind of memory lapse is more common. Their research, which uncovered potential links between memory deficits and cocaine for the first time, appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE.
 

While there were slight decreases in the use of cocaine and methamphetamine among youth, teen marijuana use showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to the 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey, marijuana use among adolescents has increased gradually over the past two years after years of declining use; and past year rates of Vicodin and OxyContin abuse increased during the last 5 years among 10th graders and remained unchanged among 8th and 12th graders. The MTF Survey, which surveys youth in 8th, 10th and 12th graders, was released Monday by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the University of Michigan.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is warning public health and safety leaders across the country about a dangerous new drug threat coming from Canada. Ecstasy laced with methamphetamine (meth) has been entering the United States illegal drug markets, particularly in northern border states. Intelligence reports indicate that once smuggled into the U.S., the meth-laced Ecstasy is then being distributed throughout the country.

According to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), while there have been substantial improvements over time in many health risk behaviors among all high school students, Hispanic students remain at greater risk for certain health related behaviors, such as drug use and driving in a car with an impaired driver. The YRBS was released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While there was a decline in the current use of prescription drug abuse among 12 to 17 year olds, there were increases in the rates of past year use of Ecstasy and LSD, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The survey was released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at a news conference in Washington, D.C.