Drug users are damaging their brains
September 5th 2010 18:53
Signature Tune
AAP
A study of Australian ecstasy, ice and speed users has uncovered tell-tale signs of brain damage, adding to concerns over the long-term impact of drug use.
Doctors at Royal Perth Hospital scanned the brains of 30 patients who were treated in the emergency department for problems related to their amphetamine use.
In interviews, a majority reported having concentration and mood problems, while half admitted to suffering memory problems when not high.
Six patients showed signs of brain damage, often an "unidentified bright object" on their scan which indicated a point of damage usually in their brain's frontal lobe.
"Abnormalities on brain MRI scans were identified in six patients, most commonly an unidentified bright object (UBO)," said professor of emergency medicine Daniel Fatovich, from the hospital's Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine.
"... While the significance of this is uncertain it is congruent with evidence that amphetamines cause brain injury, and therefore could have public health implications."
The patients were mostly men, with an average age of just over 26 years, and most had a history of ice, speed or ecstasy use that spanned several years.
The research indicated one in five had suffered a likely drug-related brain injury.
Prof Fatovich said the finding added to "emerging evidence of serious long-term effects of amphetamine use, including depression, anxiety, psychosis and memory disturbance".
Drug-related brain injury could also increase a drug user's long-term risk of stroke, he said.
The research, by Prof Fatovich and fellow colleagues at the hospital, is detailed in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.
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Comment by ShaunK
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Mountain Fog
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I just turned 17 years clean and sober, and I still show the signs of damage, not the least of which is, as I type this, I have to stop and correct the unintentional reversal of letters in words, or using a wrong key completely, which is so frustrating and annoying.
Kids of today need to know what they do today, will haunt them mentally for the rest of their lives.
Good post katyzzz,
cheers
fog
Comment by katyzzz
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But there are sound warnings here for the young, some damage will prove irreversible.
If they only saw themselves stoned, or whatever, they might have second thoughts, how could any of them pretend to think they're enjoying themselves.
Some sound advice you've added here.
Comment by Mountain Fog
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I caught the very beginning of the ecstasy craze, which current users now speak of with reverence as being the era of pure ecstasy, however, medical observations found at the time, this was over twenty years ago now, that the combination of severe dehydration and ecstasy use, common at dance/rave parties, could cause irreparable brain damage,
they had twelve kids in London hospital who they described as near vegetable state.
During my drug taking era, it was pure LSD, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, barbituates, mandrax, mescalin, marijuana, opium, and opium laced hashish, and heroin and horse tranquiliser laced marijuana that were the drugs of popular choice, and, yes, I took them all.
I liked to think in some moderation and control, but, that proved my undoing.
The big problem today it seems is, the laboratory made chemical combinations being made by criminal chemists, who do not have to bother about potential lethality or damage, and frankly, you see it on the roads and streets with the increase of violence.
We live in interesting times, unfortunately.
cheers
fog
Comment by katyzzz
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Life has become crazy in its own right, if you ask me.
Thanks for being so open in what you have told us.
Comment by Mountain Fog
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
and an excellent post, and image, highlighting this current day worsening social drama.
By the way, on August 6th I turned 17 years "clean and sober" as they say in AA and NA.
I should do a post on it...thanks for making me think of it!
cheers
fog