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

[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.