Ecstasy Cures Cancer?

The drug MDMA, or most commonly known as "Ecstasy", is one of the most popular recreational psychoatives or "club drugs". Ecstasy is mostly favored for it's euphoric and peaceful effects. MDMA is classified as a stimulant and it;s chemical name is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine(Erowid).

According to an article in the International Business Times, scientists have proved that ecstasy may kill some cancer cells, and they have increased it's effectiveness 100-fold(by 100%). The specific diseases being cured are leukaemia, lymphoma & myeloma. To reduce the toxic effect on the brain, researchers re-engineered ecstasy by taking some atoms away and putting new ones in their place. John Gordon, a professor at the University of Birmingham's School of Immunology and Infection said "Where we've tested these new compounds we can wipe out 100% of the cancer cells in some cases". Although in some cases the treatments have only been shown to prolong life for about 2 months, and each treatments costs about $120,00 a year (that's $9,500 payments every month). To create new compounds researchers have teamed up with a group from the University of Australia. This treatment would ultimately erase the need for chemotherapy with these certain diseases because it is only attacking the cancer cells.

Since these treatmeants are so expensive and some only prolong life for about two months, it is a big question whether or not Obama Care will cover them. If they were to be covered by Obama Care insurance companies would struggle profoundly and would drown in debt because they can't afford it.

I believe once scientists are more confident in these treatments and they are atleast 90% sucessful in most cases Obama Care should cover the costs. Even though each treatment is extremely expensive it is worth saving the lives of the people that are trapped by these diseases.  Scientists have been searching for a cure to these diseases for centuries and now that we've found one we should put it to the best use of our ability.

Sources:
Erowid.org
www.ibtimes.com/dance-club-drug-ecstasy-developed-cure-cancer-302343
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFEap8xT0ml (Fox 5 news report)

Attempt to Ban Kratom (Week 5 Post)

Kratom is a tropical tree growing from 15-50 feet tall; the leaves have been chewed, smoked, and orally injected for stimulant, sedative, and euphoric effects by people in Thailand and South Asia for centuries. The stimulating effects tend to predominate at low-dose levels, which may cause alertness, energy, and mild euphoria. People often use Kratom in low-dose levels when studying or trying to focus. Higher doses tend to be more tranquilizing, causing an opiate-like dreamy effect. High-dose levels are often used for sleeping, relaxing, or just plain recreational use(Erowid).

When taken in higher doses Kratom is said to create an opiate-like effect. So, Kratom is often times used for easing off of methamphetamine and opiates. This is interesting because it is one of the safest known alternatives to curing addiction; yet it is not a popular method for such uses in rehab centers. While Kratom has many positive effects, there are a few negative effects as well. These negative effects include: nausea, unwanted sedation, vivid waking dreams, mild depression during and/or after(to be researched further), increase in body temperature, and hangover similar to alcohol. Although Kratom has so many negative effects, it is also helpful in pain relief; especially joint and muscle pain(Erowid).

Brendan Kiley wrote an article about Kratom in 2012. According to Kiley, Kratom broke into the U.S. market about 5 years ago, and because it is not illegal people aren't killing each other for it. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) began warning people about Kratom in 2005. These warnings mention several cases of Kratom psychosis, where Kratom users exhibited psychotic symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and confusions. Kiley stated in his article, "every few months, a new intoxicant that isn't technically covered by US drug-prohibition laws pops up on the market and policymakers, acting on very little information, freaks out over it". Due to the DEA's warnings and recent news stories on the subject, US Legislators are questioning whether or  not to ban Kratom. The DEA's claims aren't based on thorough research, all they are seeing is the negative effects that seem to shine through more than the positive in some cases. The bottom line, according to Dr. Boyer's paper: "The natural history of Kratom use, including it's clinical pharmacology and toxicology, are poorly understood".

I believe that the DEA should perform more in-depth research before banning it completely. Although it has it's side effects, Kratom could be extremely beneficial to this country when it comes to treating addiction. Hopefully the DEA will come to the conclusion of keeping Kratom as a government controlled substance, rather than banning it entirely. Even if it were only legal for medical purposes. I believe Kratom can do a world of good for rehab centers and opiate addicts in America, we just have to get the DEA to see that.


Sources:
-Erowid.org
-"The Rush to Prohibit Kratom" by Brendan Kiley (TheStranger.com)

"Magic Mushrooms" and cluster headaches (Week 4 Post)

My best friend has been frequently hospitalized in the last few months due to severe migraines and cluster headaches. The doctors have been performing many MRIs and brain scans to find the root of the problem. I began to do my own research and I came across a treatment that struck me as odd, at first. Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Andrew Sewell, composed a study of the effects of psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”) on cluster headaches. The chemical psilocybin practices the same effects of serotonin on brain receptors, but we are unaware of where in the brain or in what matter (neuropsychiatric reviews). The study showed 85% of patients using psilocybin reported having an extreme reduction if not a total absence of cluster headaches. The patients used in this experiment were well educated in these spiritual experiences so they weren’t as confused and able to report how they would react. Not only did the experiment expel cluster headaches in that time frame but the next expected attack was delayed. No other medication has been reported to terminate a cluster headache (Mauskop and Sun-Edelstein). Also, each treatment required very small doses.

Not only were these experiments used to test treatments for cluster headaches and migraines, they were ultimately to study the reactions from these hallucinogens. The study showed that the subjects rated the experience equally as important as their first child being born or a parent’s death. Also, two months later 79% of the subjects reported a greatly increased well-being and life-satisfaction. Study leader, Dr. Roland Griffiths stated “Under defined conditions, with careful preparation, you can safely and fairly reliably occasion what’s called a primary mystical experience that may lead to positive changes in a person. It’s an early step in what we hope will be a large body of scientific work that will ultimately help people”.

More in depth research experiments must be done to ultimately know the true underlying effects of this treatment but from where I’m standing this seems to be an extremely positive approach to such a serious condition.  

 

Sources:

Headache: The Journal of Head & Face Pain; Mar2011, Vol. 51 Issue 3, p469-483, 15p

Neuropsychiatry Reviews; Oct2006, Vol. 7 Issue 10, p6-6, 1/9p

Week 3 Post

Marijuana is said to be a “gateway” drug, but if you were to stand on a stage and say that in public I guarantee half would argue that’s its true and the other half would argue that the statement is completely false. There are NO deaths known to man caused by the use of marijuana in any way, shape or form. Marijuana, Alcohol and Tobacco are the three most readily available drugs to teenagers and young adults. Therefore, these three drugs are given the most blame to the gateway effect (Marijuana being at the top of that list). While it is easiest to blame the only true considered “drug” on that list (marijuana), maybe we should stop being so oblivious and open our eyes to the truth. Alcohol and tobacco are damaging our society, bodies and our brains 10 times more than marijuana. Everything went wrong when alcohol was legalized and marijuana was criminalized. Yes, alcohol is consumed by billions of people every single day and the profit from alcohol sales is tremendous. That is only because half of these people are consuming alcohol for recreational purposes and the other half can’t physically start their day without it. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death. Key word: preventable; we can stop this drug from killing our body but it’s too addicting to even try? Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco will cause more than 8 million deaths by 2030 (Center for Disease Control Prevention).
The only illegal drug on this list is the least harmful and most beneficial to our society, yet we choose to believe it is a danger to our health. I believe something needs to change here.
Sources:
Center for Disease and Control Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/