The Love Drug: Can Ecstasy Ban be Justified - Research Paper Example

6 September Ecstasy – The “Love Drug” Can its Ban be Justified? Ever since its ban by the DEA(Drug Enforcement Administration), the drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which goes by the street names – Ecstasy, E, Bean, XTC, Essence, Stacy, and Eve, has been the subject of intense debate (ACDE para. 1). The drug has hallucinogenic and mood enhancing effects that intensify the feelings of intimacy and emotional content of those consuming it. It is also called “Love drug” because it mimics the feeling of being in love. The drug was initially intended for therapeutic applications, but its use transcended to recreational purposes in party circles, making it the drug of choice in rave parties, dance clubs, concerts and other such events. It was termed as a youth epidemic and many cases of MDMA drug abuse were reported among youngsters. Following media reports and fatal cases of MDMA drug overdose, the drug was banned in 1985 in the US. Ecstasy has both beneficial and harmful effects. The question as to whether its benefits outweigh its harmful effects is yet to be answered. Research on the therapeutic benefits of ecstasy in humans is still in progress. The use of ecstasy is illegal and those found with the drug are heavily penalized or even jailed. This paper attempts to understand whether the criminalization and banning of the drug is justified. It argues that the drug can be exploited for various therapeutic uses and that it will do more good if released for public use. The paper further goes on to assert that criminalization of the drug is doing more harm than good. Brief History MDMA or ecstasy was first synthesized by Anton Köllisch in a Merck laboratory in 1912 (Ebitler para. 2). It was an intermediate product used in the manufacture of hydrastinine. It was patented by Merck in 1913 as a slimming agent or appetite suppressor but was not marketed by the company (IDMU para. 1). It was later used by Max Oberlin to induce adrenaline-like effects in animals. By the 1960s, it became known as the love drug because it was effective in inducing a “sense of empathy” and “deep introspective thought”, apart from “heightening the senses” (Ebitler para. 3). The effects of the drug were recorded in a book called Pihkal by Alexander Shulgin, who experimented with the drug himself (Ebitler). He recommended the potential therapeutic uses of the drug to his friend Leo Zeff, who was a psychotherapist. Soon, the drug became popular among psychotherapists for being beneficial in psychedelic therapy and in facilitating better diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric patients, especially those suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Apart from its therapeutic use, the drug became widely popular in rave parties and night clubs as an all-night dancing drug. This led to its subsequent banning by the DEA in 1985, and it was classified as a schedule 1 controlled substance, because the drug, according to the DEA, “has high abuse potential, no accepted medical use and no accepted safety for use” (The New York Times para. 5). Therapeutic Benefits of the Drug One of the most lauded therapeutic applications of ecstasy is its use in treating PTSD. The effects of the drug are similar to hallucinogens and amphetamines as it acts as a mood enhancer and perks up the nervous system (ACDE para. 5). It makes the consumer happy, content, and relaxed. The drug increases the feelings of warmth and empathy, making the person feel more energetic and full of life (IDMU para. 3). These effects result from the increase in the release of serotonin in the body. Many reports of successful psychotherapy with the drug have been reported (Eisner 59). MDMA appears to break down boundaries in communication that would allow for more quality discussion between a therapist and their patient in the proper setting. The feelings that would seem to most benefit psychotherapy are: Increased feelings of empathy, increased feelings of acceptance, depersonalization-pleasurable loosening of ego boundaries, decreases aggressiveness and defensiveness (macalester.edu para. 1). It is these effects of MDMA that facilitate its effective use in psychotherapy. The FDA approved the use of MDMA for studying PTSDStudies suggest that MDMA can be used in the treatment of depression (Feilding 1). In 2011, a British study confirmed the potential of ecstasy in treating patients with PTSD (Dickinson 1). Preliminary studies on MDMA indicate that the drug, in conjunction with psychotherapy, will be useful in helping patients overcome PTSD and other psychological disorders. The effects of the drug are empathogenic, which increase the “feelings of trust and compassion” towards other people (MAPS para. 1). Several reports also suggest that the drug is useful in pain relief. However, there is paucity of evidence on this benefit of ecstasy. Animal studies have shown that the drug has both anxiety reducing and anxiety inducing effects depending on the situation. Studies by Vollenweider et al have shown that ecstasy induces “an effective state of enhanced mood, well-being, and increased emotional sensitiveness, little anxiety, but no hallucinations or panic reactions” (qtd. in IDMU). However, several adverse reactions of the drug were also reported after 24 hours of administration in the same study. Harmful Effects The drug has innumerable side effects. It reportedly inhibits sexual performance (ACDE para. 5). Common side effects of the drug include increased sweating, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, anxiety, increased body temperature, nausea, and loss of appetite (ACDE para. 6). Higher doses of the drug cause hallucinations, breathing troubles, and sometimes even fatality due to hyperthermia (overheating), hyponatremia (over-intake of fluids which causes swelling in the brain resulting in coma), and nervous system overstimulation (which results in brain hemorrhage or heart attack). Excessive use of the drug is also implicated in mood disorders, sleep disorders, increased impulsiveness, and memory problems (LeVert 46). MDMA is not believed to be as addictive as heroin or cocaine, but studies have shown that the drug has addictive potential. A study published in Human Psychopharmacology showed that users of the drug show signs of withdrawal, fatigue, weakness, depression, and lack of concentration upon being deprived of the drug (LeVert 48). Ecstasy depletes the levels of serotonin in the brain, leaving the person depressed and anxious (American Academy of Neurology 1). These effects remain for 24 hours to a week after intake of the drug. The depletion of serotonin levels in the brain occurs because the release of large amounts of serotonin in the body resulting in depletion of the same chemical in the brain. Justification of the Ban on Ecstasy The most controversial question regarding the drug Ecstasy is whether its ban is justified. According to David Nutt, former government drug adviser – although drugs such as MDMA “have been made illegal to stop kids from abusing them, their therapeutic value has been overlooked” (Dickinson 1). The continued use of the drug causes a large number of unpleasant side effects, which, in some cases, are highly fatal. Opponents of the ban on MDMA argue that the ban is uncalled for. Rosenbaum & Doblin assert that MDMA has never been a social problem. They go on to explain that the drug induces a “strong dysphoric reaction” and its users are well aware of it (142). They further assert that unlike other drugs such as opium, the effects of MDMA are subdued after a while and so, the desire to use the drug subsides after a while. They also argue that the use of the drug is mainly limited to therapeutic use by middle class people who have jobs, homes and families to protect, and who themselves are well informed about the effects of the drug. They also state that the distributors and manufacturers of the drug are mostly middle-class whites, most of whom have other legit occupations. These people rarely sell other drugs and most often sell it as a service to friends, gaining least monetary benefit in the process. Further asserting their point, Rosenbaum and Doblin state that the drug promotes “self-reflection” and “is not likely to be attractive to classes of individuals whose life options are so limited that they feel they need to use anesthetizing drugs on a daily basis” (142). It cannot however be denied that the drug is not harmful. In spite of the ban, the drug is used widely in party circuits and there is a high rate of drug abuse amongst youngsters. Regulated use of the drug is useful rather than being harmful. However, it is difficult to enforce good practices amongst its users. Therefore, the ban on the drug is justified. Conclusion This paper discussed the benefits as well as harmful effects of ecstasy – the love drug. It shows that the ban on the drug is justified. However, in retrospect, it can be seen that the ban has induced other ills that may not have occurred if the drug was not criminalized in the first place. For instance, research on the therapeutic effects of the drug is limited because of the ban. Furthermore, criminalization of the drug has led to unregulated manufacturing practices. Ecstasy sold in the streets is not the pure form of MDMA and a large number of impurities are incorporated in the final product that makes it more harmful than the actual form of the drug (Zeese). Moreover, banning the drug promotes its unregulated and clandestine use. Therefore, there is a need for a middle path in the regulation of the drug. Works Cited ACDE. “Basic facts about drugs: Ecstasy.” American Council for Drug Education. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. . American Academy of Neurology. “Ecstasy Use Depletes Brains Serotonin Levels.” ScienceDaily, 28 Jul. 2000. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. < http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/07/000727081324.htm>. Dickinson, Boonsri. “Doctors use ecstasy to treat PTSD.” Smartplanet. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. < http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/doctors-use-ecstasy-to-treat-ptsd/10594>. Ebitler. “Illegal Drugs and the Potential for Therapeutic Use with an Emphasis on Ecstasy.” Serendip Studio. 27 Apr. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. < http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/2408>. Eisner, Bruce. Ecstasy: The MDMA Story. California: Ronin Publishing, Inc, 1994. Web. Feilding, Amanda. “MDMA may help treat depression and PTSD, Channel 4 study suggests.” Guardian.co.uk. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. . IDMU. “Therapeutic uses of Ecstasy.” Independent Drug Monitoring Unit. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. . LeVert, Suzanne. The Facts About Ecstasy. New York: Benchmark books, 2004. Web. Macalester.edu. “The Benefits of MDMA for Psychotherapy.” Web. 26 Oct. 2012. . MAPS. “MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy.” Maps.org. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. < http://www.ma’ps.org/research/mdma/>. Rosenbaum, Marsha, and Rick Doblin. The Drug Legalization Debate. Ed. James A. Inciardi. n.d: Sage Publications, 1991. Web. The New York Times. “U.S. will ban ecstasy, a hallucinogenic drug.” NYTimes.com. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. . Zeese, Kevin. “Criminalizing Ecstasy Drug Increases Use and Danger.” Los Angeles Daily Journal 30 Nov. 2001. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. < http://www.maps.org/media/zeese.html>. Read More