Ecstasy trials for combat stress --Guardian UK

[TexasLawyer]

has it really come to this?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1416073,00.html

Ecstasy trials for combat stress

David Adam, science correspondent
Thursday February 17, 2005
The Guardian

American soldiers traumatised by fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are to be offered the drug ecstasy to help free them of flashbacks and recurring nightmares. The US food and drug administration has given the go-ahead for the soldiers to be included in an experiment to see if MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, can treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Scientists behind the trial in South Carolina think the feelings of emotional closeness reported by those taking the drug could help the soldiers talk about their experiences to therapists. Several victims of rape and sexual abuse with post-traumatic stress disorder, for whom existing treatments are ineffective, have been given MDMA since the research began last year. Michael Mithoefer, the psychiatrist leading the trial, said: "It's looking very promising. It's too early to draw any conclusions but in these treatment-resistant people so far the results are encouraging.

"People are able to connect more deeply on an emotional level with the fact they are safe now." He is about to advertise for war veterans who fought in the last five years to join the study. According to the US national centre for post-traumatic stress disorder, up to 30% of combat veterans suffer from the condition at some point in their lives.

<snip>

Dr Mithoefer said the MDMA helped people discuss traumatic situations without triggering anxiety. "It appears to act as a catalyst to help people move through whatever's been blocking their success in therapy." The existing drug-assisted therapy sessions last up to eight hours, during music is played. The patients swallow a capsule containing a placebo or 125mg of MDMA - about the same or a little more than a typical ecstasy tablet. Psychologists assess the patients before and after the trial to judge whether the drug has helped. The study has provoked controversy, because significant doubts remain about the long-term risks of ecstasy.

<snip>

[TexasLawyer]

1. interesting thread on this use of Ecstacy

in the "Reader Rant" section of Capitol Hill Blue.


http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=30;DaysPrune=10

[sniffa]

2. i wanna be part of a study

where they give out e

[SoCalifer]

3. MDMA

Has been used by many doctors for various psychological treatments, with very good results... The government's reasons for banning it was based on totally false information, (and now admittedly so).

ABC News put out a very good documentary illustrating MDMA, it's effects, interviews from doctors, and the government's false and misleading accusations about it. Its hosted by Peter Jennings and its called "Ecstasy Rising"

You can watch the whole thing here: http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2610.ram

[Redneck Socialist]

4. Maybe they should issue it to both sides before combat

That way maybe would could avoid the cause of PTSD to begin with. :smoke:

[RogueTrooper]

5. Yup

never seen much, if any, violence between pilled-up people.

[TexasLawyer]

6. some of the posts on Capitol Hill Blue would agree

some people think it's great entertainment for returning troops, others think it's outrageous to be dosing them up with mind-altering drugs.

Since I'm having trouble posting a link that works, here are some of the thoughts. (Go to CHB, reader rant, Military and Security section):

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When I was in college a friend was going to the Pen, so he gave me a rock of MDA the size of a Softball as a gift; he didn’t need it and it was too large to hoop.


I still remember that month. I can't talk to 'combat stress', but it works great in combination with coeds.

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Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

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Posts: 935 | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged |

Eric J
Member
Member # 2260

posted February 18, 2005 07:58 AM
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MDA is completely different from MDMA from what I have heard. An old hippy I knew in the Coast Guard told me he injected MDA once and it gave him the most intense, realistic hallucinations he had ever had, even compared with the average 1960's sized LSD doses.


quote:
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The head ache effect is either impurities -- usually speed -- tension as a result of resisting the effects, or the lack of water intake while under the influence of the drug.
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uhhh...MDMA is a type of speed. Thats where the "A" in MDMA comes from.
3,4-methylenedioxymethAmphetamine

< February 18, 2005, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Eric J >

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Thought based purely on ideology is a threat to common sense. - Me.

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Posts: 46 | From: Portland, OR | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged |

Sandy

Member
Member # 2525

posted February 18, 2005 11:19 AM
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It was either "The Time Machine" by Welles or "Brave New World" by Huxley where all the people lined up every morning to take their government allotment of pills. I guess starting this when the American kids were young will just naturally progress into pills to help our soldiers get back to reality.

It's bad enough to find this openly discussed on the forum but to know that the Government will be providing this **** to our soldiers makes me sick.

Are we so bad off that we need mind altering drugs to survive? This makes me feel less guilty of wanting the whole damn government brought down to the garbage it has become.

It explains the apathy found on the streets of America and the lack of intelligent people who manage to be paid to vote.

Why all the drug experimentation found here at RR? Has life been so stressful that you need to walk around in a drugged state? I guess this is a generation thing. I was taught to train my mind to grab any and everything that came by; take it, analyze it and throw out that didn't sound rational. I saw this drug use in my own neighorhood and the misery it brought the parents when the kids couldn't stay in school or even read a book.

Good going guys, how will your children do when faced with a step into adulthood? Got something to give them to help them out?

Sh-it! this thread makes me sick!

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Sandy
How much government do you want?