ABSTRACT
A sensationalized topic of discourse during the past two decades has been use of the drug known popularly as “ecstasy.” Regaled by some as “penicillin for the soul” and condemned by others as a dangerous brain toxin, ecstasy is an object of intense interest and extensive experimentation by large sections of the youth population. Lurid media coverage has contributed to widespread confusion regarding the genuine level of risk and putative safety parameters. Unfortunately, the drug's illicit status and centerpiece role in lavishly funded War on Drugs research has raised serious questions regarding the scientific ethics and credibility of some government-sponsored investigations. Whether ecstasy turns out to cause the severe central nervous system degeneration concluded in high-profile studies or these grave prognostications have been exaggerated and misleading, the health and well-being of millions of (mostly young) users may be hanging in the balance.
