In December, Portland Jefferson High School student Peter Vu collapsed and died after taking ecstasy, a drug whose use is growing among young people. State officials say Oregonians need to learn the facts about ecstasy. Caroline Cruz is a prevention specialist with the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs of the Oregon Department of Human Services. National data show that ecstasy use among high school students has jumped for the second year in a row, even as cigarette smoking drops and other drug use remains unchanged.
Ecstasy is also the most common drug tried first by college students.
Cruz says that ecstasy, which has a chemical formula similar to mescaline and amphetamines, can be addictive. We do know that if you take amphetamines over a period of time that you actually become addicted. This drug has that same potential. She also warns that ecstasy, like any street drug, may contain unknown or dangerous substances. It could be contaminated with many other altered chemicals which could then lead to many other side effects.