According to the 2000 Monitoring the Future Survey released in December by the Department of Health and Human Services, teens' use of several drugs, including cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol, has leveled off or even decreased. But there was a significant increase in ecstasy use. The study found that past-year use of ecstasy increased for the second straight year among 10th and 12th graders and for the first year among 8th graders. Forty percent of high school seniors say ecstasy is easy or fairly easy to get. Ecstasy is known as the hug drug or love drug.
Users report that it heightens their empathy and affection for other people.
In addition, ecstasy s ability to act as a stimulant and psychedelic make the drug popular at raves parties that typically feature dancing to pulsating, techno music through the night. What s new is the huge influx of ecstasy into this country. In 1997, U.S. Customs seized 400,000 ecstasy tablets. In 2000, they seized 9.3 million. While users of club drugs may think they re taking them simply for energy to keep on dancing or partying, research shows that these drugs can have long-lasting negative effects on the brain that can alter memory function and motor skills.