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Health

From the archives: this is your brain on ecstasy, 30 years ago

By Sam Wong

16 January 2019

ecstasy pills

Edd Westmacott / Alamy Stock Photo

THIRTY years ago, ecstasy was becoming the drug of choice at raves – and whenever young people use drugs to have a good time, concerns are rarely far behind. “,” Âé¶¹´«Ã½ reported on 21 January 1989.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

The claim came from Stephen Peroutka of Stanford University in California, who warned users to abandon the drug altogether. “If they continue… they risk damage to their nervous system that may take decades to manifest itself,” we reported. “It could emerge initially as depression or disturbance…

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