Ecstasy & PTSD

The experts know that those in pain turn to illegal drugs because they work – at least initially. Despite their harmful effects ranging from addiction to overdose to other health hazards, some are successful at numbing the pain from mental disorders including depression, bi-polar and trauma. The trick is to only use drugs as necessary, under a doctor’s care, and in conjunction with alternative methods including therapy to treat these problems.

The study looked at 20 individuals suffering from PTSD related to traumas ranging from sexual assault to combat stress and found that MDMA paired with ongoing counseling was more effective than counseling and a placebo. According to the Journal of Psychopharmacology, five out of six who took the drug improved to the point where they no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared to one in four in the placebo group.

Why does MDMA work in this situation? Ecstasy raises levels of serotonin and oxytocin, producing a feeling of euphoria and emotional warmth that helps patients connect with their therapists and process their trauma without “numbing out,” according to Michael Mithoefer, M.D., the lead author of the study.

Despite these promising results, experts warn against self-medicating with MDMA. In addition to the dangers of street drugs’ unreliability, Ecstasy carries the risk of depression, severe anxiety, and potential cognitive problems, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and was outlawed in 1985.

The study was funded by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a California-based nonprofit organization that also sponsors research on medical marijuana and psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin.

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