Ecstasy, methamphetamine and their combination: Assessment of adverse effects

MDMA（摇头丸）和甲基苯丙胺（METH）是澳大利亚年轻人经常使用的流行派对药物。与MDMA和METH使用相关的健康问题是：（1）许多人因这些药物产生的高体温（体温过高）而出现并发症;（2）MDMA和METH都可能导致大脑中关键神经递质的长期丢失。这种对大脑的影响很可能导致心理问题，如焦虑、抑郁、冲动行为增加和记忆力受损。然而，MDMA和METH使用与随后的脑损伤之间的联系仍然存在很大争议。最近，我们发现，当MDMA和METH结合时，可以看到特别的毒性作用，体温非常高，对情绪和大脑功能产生持久的不良影响。这是令人关切的一个主要原因，因为有证据表明，许多澳大利亚吸毒者经常将甲基苯丙胺和摇头丸结合使用。该项目将调查MDMA、METH和METH-MDMA组合的短期和长期影响。第一阶段旨在研究不同剂量的药物是否会导致情绪，行为和脑功能的持久变化，并比较三种治疗方法的相对毒性。第二阶段将确定缺乏液体摄入、高环境温度和高龄是否是确定MDMA和METH毒性的风险因素。第三阶段将评估这些药物治疗的毒性是否取决于动物是否自愿服用药物或是否由实验人员注射药物。该项目的最后部分将使用各种先进技术来跟踪在一系列条件下给予这些药物治疗引起的脑损伤。该项目的重要性将增加我们对MDMA和METH如何影响大脑和行为以及如何预测这些药物造成的危害并将其降至最低的理解。

MDMA (Ecstasy) and Methamphetamine (METH) are popular party drugs that are frequently used by young Australians. Health problems associated with MDMA and METH use are (1) many people suffer complications arising from the high body temperature (hyperthermia) that these drugs produce, and (2) MDMA and METH may both cause long-term loss of key neurotransmitters in the brain. This effect on the brain may well lead to psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, increased impulsive behaviour and memory impairment. However the link between MDMA and METH use and subsequent brain damage is still very controversial. Recently, we have found that when MDMA and METH are combined, a particularly toxic effect is seen with very high body temperatures and lasting adverse effects on mood and brain function. This is a major cause for concern because of evidence that many Australian drug users are combining METH and MDMA on a regular basis. This project will investigate the short and long-term effects of MDMA, METH and METH-MDMA combinations. Phase 1 is aimed at investigating whether different doses of the drugs lead to lasting changes in mood, behaviour and brain function and to compare the relative toxicity of the three treatments. Phase 2 will determine whether lack of fluid intake, high environmental temperatures and advanced age are risk factors in determining the toxicity of MDMA and METH. Phase 3 will assess whether the toxicity of these drug treatments depends upon whether an animal takes the drugs voluntarily or whether they are injected with the drug by the experimenter. The final part of the project will use a wide variety of advanced techniques to track the brain damage caused by these drug treatments given under a range of conditions. The significance of this project will be in increasing our understanding of how MDMA and METH affect the brain and behaviour and how the harms posed by these drugs may be predicted and therefore minimised.