SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don/eldonnews.org • MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015
NEWS 5
PRESCRIPTIONS: FDA EXAMINING MDMA
Continued from Page 4
The pure form of the drug is not
dangerous unless abused because it
does not contain the adulterants, and
may actually have beneficial effects
in treating sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the
Multidisciplinary Association for
Psychedelic Studies.
In the first clinical trial of MDMA
as PTSD treatment combined with
psychotherapy sessions, 83 percent of those treated with the drug
showed improvement, versus those
given a placebo who were found to
have only a 25 percent symptom
improvement, according to Dr.
Michael C. Mithoefer, who led the
2010 study.
In psychotherapy sessions, therapists utilize MDMA because of its
ability to lower fear and anxiety,
while simultaneously increasing
patients’ trust and empathy, explains
Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS.
MDMA releases both dopamine
and serotonin — the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness or
pleasure — to the brain.
“I feel so happy and carefree, as if
all is right with the world,” Amanda
Smith, a student at Santiago Canyon
College said when asked about her
experience with ecstasy.
MDMA is a commonly abused
drug because of its recreational
popularity at raves, according to the
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Abuse of prescription drugs is
increasing, and adults aged 18 to 25
are leading the way with controlled
prescription drugs, excluding marijuana, as the most popular firsttime-user drug o