Ecstasy, a man-made drug that is part hallucinogen and part stimulant, affects the serotonin system. Users report a sense of euphoria and increased sensation, as ecstasy brings on a rush of serotonin levels. "People tend not to be daily or even regular users. They'll plan for it, perhaps for a special occasion," Medina says.

Medina says she has conducted previous research that found long-term use of ecstasy was linked to poor verbal memory. Other research has linked ecstasy to poor executive function, such as attention, problem-solving and planning. Men have been found to have an increased risk of impacting executive function with ecstasy use.

"It's not used all that often, but it can cause a lot of damage," Medina says. "We'll also be exploring what happens when people are combined drug users, such as combining marijuana or alcohol with ecstasy."

Medina says ecstasy use continues to be a major public health problem among adolescents and young adults. The researchers want their findings to aid biologically-based treatments for drug users.

The NIH award is issued under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Source: University of Cincinnati