Love, Peace and Harmony

[commonpeople1]

One of the reasons I stopped taking ecstasy was an article in The Face magazine, in 1998, that said ecstasy caused long-term brain damage plus depression (they claimed a drop in serotonin production over time for ecstasy users.) Even Pulp recorded a song around then, "Sorted for Eez and Whizz", which echoed that fear of "leaving your brain behind in a field".

But according to the last Horizon show, a group of scientists who have been studying the drug for over ten years have come to the conclusion that it's one of the most harmless out there - more so than marijuana, alcohol or cigarettes, for example, and just slightly more dangerous than poppers (you can only die from it if you dehydrate). All those past media claims turned out to be urban legends.

This calls for a celebration! :-)

Ecstasy has always been my favourite drug (especially when in its pure MDMA form - not mixed with speed, etc.) My best memories from Hong Kong and Sao Paulo's clubs were the ecstasy fuelled nights I shared with my friends. Sometimes, the party never left our own apartments. It may have affected negatively our taste in music (I seem to have a Renaissance compilation at home which I bought purely for getting high). We are all still alive today, blissfully free of Prozac or its derivatives.

The documentary had some damning evidence on alcohol and cigarettes (which everyone already knows), but it especially burst the marijuana bubble. Studies have already been published linking pot to gum and lung disease, but these scientists claim that new research shows a link between the appearance of psychosis and long-term cannabis use. I'm the first one to admit that I enjoy a joint once in a while, but to me it has always been a drug that should be used with other people - like sharing a bottle of wine - instead of smoking/ingesting it by yourself every day. A treat for the weekend, for that special get together, rather than a daily escape from reality. I was a pothead for a while in university - the wake & bake kind - and I experienced all the negative side-effects even when I wasn't smoking: paranoia, loss of memory, loss of concentration. In the end, I realized I was psychologically addicted to it and it wasn't fun any more.

This is not to say I'll be showing up tonight at Camden, looking for a bag of pills; but it makes me feel more excited about the possibilities in the future if I get the chance to purchase some MDMA (apparently, a pill goes for £1-5?!?!)

Meet me on the dancefloor.

Comments

[amberholic.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I've never tried ecstasy as I was always quite scared by the stories. I was also a bit worried about making myself vulnerable in a potentially dangerous environment (nightclubs).

I tried marijuana twice but it didn't do anything for me. Perhaps because I tend to feel quite chilled out a lot of the time anyway that it just doesn't really affect me. The stuff I tried was really strong too and everyone else seemed high as a kite.

I'm really excited about taking Ayahuasca in the Amazon though next year.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

The thing to remember is that ecstasy is still a drug, so yes I agree with you that it has the potential of dropping your guard. However, I never felt out of control on it - it's not like that other drug which makes you pass out and leave you defenceless. You go up, you go down, but you never lose consciousness (unless you dehydrate.)

comment edited to protect the guilty

[despina.livejournal.com]

That was an interesting programme indeed!

Re: comment edited to protect the guilty

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yes to that previous comment - I see where you are coming from and I agree. My eyes are open too. ;-)

[canudiglett]

Of all the drugs I've ever tried, the only one I'd ever take again is acid - but I can't imagine ever really being in a situation where it would happen. Pills turned me temporarily insane and made me lose my memory, speed made me incredibly boring, and dope made me sleep and eat too much. Acid, on the other hand, turned the world into a wonderful exciting place to explore and totally wiped out mundane realities. Even when the effects had worn off, I would still be looking back on my discoveries and adventures like an exotic holiday. Felicity and I still reminisce about acid fuelled nights that happened 15 years ago, and remember every little detail!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I had some great experiences on LSD too, and the programme made some interesting points about it (they think, for example, that it should be used in clinical studies because it helps people drop their guard and could be beneficial in psychotherapy.) The only problem I had with LSD was that it was soooooo strong, I felt like I couldn't turn it off when I wanted it too - and it lasted far too long (12 hours for me on both times I did it). But I do think that maybe the world would be a better place if everyone was forced to take a tab every seven years or so, just so they can confront their own bullshit and learn a little.

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

And heroin is ok too, right?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Heroin is listed by these scientists as the worst drug of them all (cocaine in second place). Did you see the program?

[sublimevisions.livejournal.com]

if you want more serotonin levels, eat more chicken or turkey.

tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin.

considering when you obviously take your MDMA, you'll have more to release.

enjoy!

;)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Is that why there's always a line up at my local KFC?!

[fisticuff-s.livejournal.com]

of all the drugs that i hear of people doing, ecstasy has always scared me the least, though admittedly because i know so little about it. it's interesting to hear about its affects as less harmful than alcohol, my drug of choice.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I think people forget how much damage alcohol does to our body - liver, brain cells, etc - and are quick to believe the ills of ecstasy, even without any proof. The fact that it demonstrably has no addictive properties, and does not affect the brain long-term - plus is a drug that no pharmaceutical company can patent, thus make billions from it - leaves a lot to think about...

[geosh.livejournal.com]

i can't believe one only costs 1-5 pound(s)! i'd be hesitant to take it though again because the last time i did (well i was wildly drunk, too, but) i kissed someone i'd been courting for a while and then totally blacked out and called her at like 4 in the morning and asked if we'd actually kissed. she got really fucking pissed b/c after all my promises i didn't even remember a first kiss... :(

*sigh*

I'd also be hesitant to take it because of all the crazy people i ended up making out with when I used to take it - but really i'd be hesitant because that type of neural fluctuation seems unhealthy no matter what (would have to cause crazy unreliable thinking in some way...)
but it's certainly drug I'd love to believe is harmless.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

If we are to believe the research, it's far and away more harmless than alcohol, for example. Or cigarettes. So....

The danger in my opinion is when it's cut with other drugs - like speed. Ideally, I'd take MDMA in its pure format, with nothing else added.

[blu-bear.livejournal.com]

I really wish you hadn't posted this :-P

I've been off pills for nearing a year now and this is not what I want to hear! The thing is with pills is that I find that the down isn't worth the the up. But maybe that's how I choose to remember it. Also I can't stand the hallucinations that I get nearly every time now, since I took 4 bad ones (in the space of 1.5 hours) a while ago.

The thought of Acid scares the hell out of me. If I can't take a couple of hours of hallucinating on pills how could I manage LSD? I'm terrified I'd get a scary trip. And then there's the possibility of flashbacks..

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

LSD is a whole different ball game. I know people who've had really bad trips on it (i nearly did).

Again, when it comes to ecstasy, it's all down to what it gets mixed with. Many pills are a combination of MDMA with other substances. Do we know where they come from when we buy it? Unfortunately no... so it really is a gamble perhaps not worth taking.

But I like the fact that MDMA in itself, looked under research, has proven to not be as terrifying as reported (the original point of my post.)

[vrax.livejournal.com]

Ecstasy wrecks the T-cells in your lungs. It's like consuming a bit of AIDs every time you do it. Yuck.

Here's one link, there are hundreds. Sorry to rain on your parade, morally I could care less, just know what you're getting into.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Well, these people in the documentary were from various top universities here in Britain. I think I'll go with their assessment. No rain on my parade; it's a sunny day.

[whitman22.livejournal.com]

I didn't know much about E until I had a student do a research paper on it when I was teaching at Duke University. I checked into it myself and decided to give it a whirl on New Year's Eve, 2000, and had a spectacular time. In fact, I liked it so much, I decided I would only do it on rare special occasions because I didn't want to get too into it. I've done it off and on maybe 6-7 times since 2000, and had great fun every time; I think it's definitely a drug that, if used intelligently (not in combination with booze or other drugs, for example), in moderation and only for special occasions, can be quite harmless and fun. And man, it does feel good to be touched when you're on E! *tingly*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I whole-heartedly agree! Moderation and sensibility is the way to go.

[frankeecymraeg.livejournal.com]

sooo i didn't see this documentary, obviously.
but what spurred the sudden change in all the research that has been done before?

and even if it is "safe" in its pure form, wouldn't you agree that the only way to know it is "safe" would be to make it yourself? I mean buying it from someone you dont know whats in it, if it really is E, what its laced with, what conditions it was prepared in, how much you are actually taking

and i've never tried it, and never will, but how often are you going to think "let me stop being joyful for a second and drink a lot of water"?



but maybe my viewpoint comes from almost being raped by someone rolling on E.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's still a drug, so it's not "safe". But it's just a drug, according to these scientists, less harmful than previously thought. I don't know what kind of research was done on it before, but many assumptions were drawn after some people died on it (who turned out to have died from dehydration, and not brain holes, etc.)

The problem of supply is also a major one because, unless you know how to make it yourself, you'll never know what exactly you are getting. And here in England it's a Class A drug, thus a quick ticket to jail if you supply it.

But I just think it's hopeful that research continues and that the new discoveries point at something that could turn out to be more helpful than dangerous.

As for the person who nearly raped you, they must have been on something other than E. I'd say it's nearly impossible to get an erection while high on E (from my experience, as well as my friend's). Maybe he was just trying to hug you, hold you, instead?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

MDMA has been shown to cause brain damage in animals and especially in primates

They mentioned that too, but what they added was that those studies had different proportions of MDMA to body size given to animals, and there was also the element of their brains being quite different from our own. In studies done on humans, it was concluded that memory loss happened while on the drug, but then the brain went back to normal afterwards.

One of the scientists did say that there's still research to be done in MDMA use and ageing, i.e. how the brain copes as the person grows older, but the overall conclusion was that it was by far less harmful than alcohol, for example, whose negative effects on the brain cells is widely known and proven, yet is a legal drug.

[dawnkitten.livejournal.com]

One of the doctors on the programme used to be on one of my panels at work :) (I had a bit of a geek moment over that)

The study also took into account the drugs impact on society - hence heroin and cocaine being the top two and e being so low 'cos of their cumulative societal/personal effect

Ofcourse the government won't take any notice of a study from it's own recommending body- but it was interesting.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I'm very much in favour of the government doing something about the binge drinking here in Britain... it's out of control and it's going to be a massive burden to the NHS when all these bingers are older. This government is out of its depth.

meh....

[dilvsy.livejournal.com]

I have no problems with smoking weed nightly.
I prefer to smoke alone, as it helps me relax.
I already have anxiety issues, did so before the daily marijuana use.
Ecstacy is one drug I always wanted to try, but never have. I had herbal ectasy once, that's it.

And oooh, poppers. I had never done them before, but when I was shagging Wiull last spring/summer, he would bring coke over, and we would do it, and one night he brought over poppers. I puked from the first hit.

Poppers are not good.

And coke, I only do it on very rare occasions, and have never actually bought it myself, it has always been freebies for me!

But...I prefer weed, because it doesn't affect my life really, and is not highly addictive like the other, harder drugs

Re: meh....

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Maybe next time I'm in Toronto, we can try some MDMA together. I know someone there that can get it for us. :-)

[frankeecymraeg.livejournal.com]

it was definitely E. I know the crowd and whats popular among them. I also knew by how he was acting and how he felt. It was at a club, he pinned me against a wall and undid my trousers, and proceeded to attempt to go down on me while trying his damndest to keep me in place. No boner needed on his part. He was two or three times my size, and me being drunk wasnt really helping me get away.

So I'm fairly sure unless hugging has turned into cock in mouth, he wasnt hugging me.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

That's terrible Frankee... I'm sorry that happened to you. :-(

[crosseyedcat.livejournal.com]

I love ecstasy, I don't have anything bad to say about it and I LOVE when documentaries like this come out. It's happening more and more these days.

If you've tried most drugs and associated with people on most drugs, it's pretty clear which ones are the most harmful. I'd definitely say alcohol is a lot worse than ecstasy.. I've been around thousands of people on pills and very rarely have I seen anything bad happen..

I love going to big summer raves we have here in Australia, where everyone is on pills, dancing in the sunshine with minimal clothing on (yum).. there are no fights, everyone is happy, we make so many friends.. ahh it's so good!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

an ecstasy party is the easiest going thing in the world. Everyone happy, everyone behaving themselves. Now if you throw in alcohol, you get very often fights, etc. I keep hoping that these new researches are the just the start of a re-evaluation and acceptance of E. How amazing would it be if it got decriminalized?