U.S. government launches anti-Ecstasy campaign

ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- The U.S. national drug control policy director, Barry McCaffrey, on Tuesday announced a $5 million radio and Internet campaign to educate parents and the public about the dangers of the drug MDMA, better known as "Ecstasy."

Methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine -- taken most often by teens and young adults at "rave" parties -- can cause brain damage by destroying neurons that produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, responsible for controlling mood, sleep, pain, sexual activity and violent behavior, researchers have reported.

The ad campaign, to begin this month, will target young people in 106 radio markets across the country. It will also target youths via the Internet with advertising on popular Web sites and through the purchase of links to keywords on search engines which trigger the government's ad message.

McCaffrey said many elements of society -- including parents, teachers, and some police officers -- do not understand the dangers of MDMA and other "club drugs."

MORE Find out more about the White House Anti-Drug Media Campaign     RESOURCES Get information about Ecstasy and other dangerous drugs at The Anti-Drug     MESSAGE BOARD War on drugs

"We've got to talk to parents who are taking their young people to an all-night rave and seeing police uniforms and believing that because it's quoted as alcohol-free that this is a safe environment," McCaffrey said. "Their young people are at risk in that environment."

The drug was developed by the Merck corporation and patented about 1912.

In the 1970's, the drug was used by therapists to create a "psychologically safe environment in which patients could explore traumatic feelings or memories," said Prof. Philip Jenkins of Pennsylvania State University, author of "Synthetic Panics."

Jenkins testified before a Congressional committee this year that the drug developed "a politically damaging reputation for giving pleasure" during the 1980's and was made illegal in 1985.

McCaffrey said MDMA is often mixed with other drugs. Emergency room records show its use among patients has increased many times during the past year.

McCaffrey said harsher penalties for trafficking and distribution of the drug are called for, but said Congress is unlikely to pass such a bill this year. Most of the MDMA in the United States is smuggled from the Netherlands.

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Office of National Drug Control Policy
Drug Information: Ecstasy
Ecstasy Information

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