Despite Ecstasy's reputation for safety, it can be deeply harmful, Wilson says. Because it makes them feel so good, Wilson says, users are reluctant to believe that the drug can hurt them. Ecstasy works by affecting one of the brain's key chemicals. It causes the brain to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps control mood. Lack of serotonin can contribute to depression and can harm areas of the brain responsible for thought and memory.
Recent studies suggest that even one dose of Ecstasy can damage the brain.
It creates a wonderful environment, but that's only for the time the serotonin's being released. When the drug effect wears off, you have a brain that has spilled a lot of serotonin, and now it doesn't have enough to release the next time that you need it. Wilson worries that Ecstasy users will permanently harm their brains. While police try to get Ecstasy off the streets, a California organization known as Dance Safe takes a different approach. It has accepted the drug as a fact of life and is trying to reduce the risk by warning users of the dangers, such as dehydration and overheating.