Cannabis and Ecstasy/MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): an analysis of their neuropsychobiological interactions in recreational users
- 24 May 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Neural Transmission
- Vol. 114 (8), 959-968
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-007-0715-7
Abstract
The majority of recreational Ecstasy/MDMA users (90–98%) also take cannabis. This co-drug usage is often viewed as a methodological confound, which needs to be removed statistically. Here we take a rather different approach, and debate the potential complexities of their psychobiological interactions. The ring-substituted amphetamine derivate MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetmaine, or ‘Ecstasy’ is a powerful CNS stimulant, whereas cannabis is a relaxant. Their co-usage may reflect opposing effects in three psychobiological areas: arousal, body temperature, and oxidative stress. Firstly MDMA is alerting whereas cannabis is sedating. Secondly MDMA is hyperthermic whereas cannabis is hypothermic. Thirdly MDMA increases oxidative stress whereas cannabinoids are antioxidant. Hence cannabis may modulate the acute and sub-acute reactions to MDMA, reduce the acute hyperthermia induced by MDMA, and ameliorate the oxidative stress caused by MDMA. The limited empirical evidence on each topic will be critically examined. In terms of chronic effects each drug is functionally damaging, so that polydrug users generally display cumulative neurobiological impairments. However in certain aspects their neuropsychobiological effects may interactive rather than additive. In particular, the combined use of cannabis and MDMA may have rather different neuropsychobiological implications, than their separate usage. In order to investigate these potential complexities, future research will need better empirical data on the exact patterns of co-drug usage.Keywords
This publication has 102 references indexed in Scilit:
- Pathways between ecstasy initiation and other drug useAddictive Behaviors, 2007
- Evidence for Significant Polydrug Use Among Ecstasy-Using College StudentsJournal of American College Health, 2006
- Prevalence and Predictors of Club Drug Use among Club-Going Young Adults in New York CityJournal of Urban Health, 2006
- MDMA in humans: factors which affect the neuropsychobiological profiles of recreational ecstasy users, the integrative role of bioenergetic stressJournal of Psychopharmacology, 2006
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Ecstasy: The Neuropsychobiological Implications of Taking It at Dances and RavesNeuropsychobiology, 2004
- Personality dimensions and psychopathological profiles of Ecstasy usersHuman Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 2001
- Psychological profile of abstinent recreational Ecstasy (MDMA) users and significance of concomitant cannabis useHuman Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 2001
- Differential effects of Ecstasy and cannabis on self‐reports of memory ability: a web‐based studyHuman Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 2001
- Psychobiological problems in heavy 'ecstasy' (MDMA) polydrug usersDrug and Alcohol Dependence, 2000
- Causes and consequences of the loss of serotonergic presynapses elicited by the consumption of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) and its congenersJournal of Neural Transmission, 1997