Ecstasy Use Not So 'Fantastic'

A leading researcher on ecstasy misuse has hit out at TV personality Graham Norton?s recent drugs boast.

In an interview with Marie Claire magazine the Irish comedian confessed to having taken many drugs ? and he referred to ecstasy as "just fantastic".

Dr Philip Murphy, a Reader in Psychology at Edge Hill University who has co-authored over 20 scientific papers on the use of the drug and its effects, responded: "It is important that the dangers of using this drug are given at least the same level of publicity as the type of comments attributed to Graham Norton.

"There is now a large body of evidence that ecstasy damages parts of the brain which use serotonin as a means of communication between cells. These parts of the brain are concerned with the regulation of mood and memory performance.

"Impaired memory performance in users of the drug has been widely reported in our own work and that of other research teams. Mood disturbance has also been reported, with many users experiencing depression in the days after weekend usage."

Dr Murphy went on to state that there were reported cases of psychotic reactions and death associated with the use of ecstasy. "Although such cases might be comparatively rare compared to memory and mood disturbance, they should not be forgotten. In short, I'd argue that taking all these dangerous side-effects into account, using ecstasy was anything but "fantastic" as Graham Norton is reported to have claimed."

Dr Murphy advised anyone who was concerned about the effects which ecstasy use might have had on them should contact their GP or a professional substance misuse counselling agency.