Ecstasy (Yes, the Club Drug) as a Treatment for Autism?

A new study in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggests that MDMA---that's the club drug, ecstasy---may be used to 'enhance the psychotherapy of people who struggle to feel connected to others.' For this reason, it's suggested that the drug might be used with those who have autism, schizophrenia, or antisocial personality disorder. Researchers do note that 'these effects have been difficult to measure objectively, and there has been limited research in humans.' And it's pretty hard not to look at this latest idea about treating autism with several grains of salt.

The new study, Is Ecstasy an "Empathogen"?, was undertaken by University of Chicago researchers and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. According to the lead author, Dr. Gillinder Bedi:

"We found that MDMA produced friendliness, playfulness, and loving feelings, even when it was administered to people in a laboratory with little social contact. We also found that MDMA reduced volunteers' capacity to recognize facial expressions of fear in other people, an effect that may be involved in the increased sociability said to be produced by MDMA."

The study found that the use of MDMA can make others 'seem more attractive and friendly.' However, MDMA can also make others seem 'less threatening, which could increase users' social risk-taking'---and which could, and would, one might think, pose potentially significant problems for those with psychiatric disorders or individuals on the autism spectrum, who may well have difficulties 'reading' and processing others' social cues.

An article in the December 31st New York Daily News also cites another study, published last July, that looked at the use of MDMA for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The rationale for using this particular drug for autism seems to be that it assists with helping people to make contact socially; to connect. Certainly difficulties with social interactions, social communication, and social skills are regularly noted in those on the autism spectrum. But there are plenty of less risky ways to address such. These include social skills training, for children, teenagers, and adults.

Further, based on my experiences as the mother of an autistic son and from the numerous interactions and friendships I have been fortunate to have with many who are themselves on the autism spectrum, I think it behooves the rest of us to try to think about how we can change ourselves. Just because someone does not respond to the usual social norms and cues as we expect does not necessarily mean she or he is rude or arrogant. She or he may need more time to process language and gestures. And it is certainly possible for us to change our responses and behaviors to communicate our understanding.

The difficulties that autistic persons often have in social settings are often understood to mean that they prefer to be alone and isolated. While these days my son certainly likes to spend time in his room listening to music, he really likes having other people around and being around other people, from his fellow students, his teachers and therapists, relatives and even ..... his parents (Charlie is a teenager now and does have a lot of challenges, but he wants to be independent and 'on his own' as much as any other child, and that includes telling my husband and me that he'd like to have his own space at times, thank you very much).

And I don't think that you'll be surprised to hear that the researchers state that more research needs to be done on using something like ecstasy in therapeutic settings, for individuals with the disorders and conditions noted above.

Read more: ecstasy, drugs, autism, schizophrenia, ptsd, health policy, mdma

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Tags:

• aspergers syndrome
• mdma
• ecstasy
• research

[HARDCORESTOMPER2010]

just imagine having what u get on weed and other drugs but every day ur powers are increasing and your body is flowing with energy,if u need any help let me know and if youve got facebook email me and i will add ya and we can have a proper chat,it would be cool to talk to someone with my condition,all the people i know dont have aspergers and half of them dont understand whats its like for us,

[HARDCORESTOMPER2010]

when you meditate u wont need much drugs to cope with ur aspergers because you will have the abilty to cope without,because meditation slows your heart rate down to virtually nothing even when u take a drug and i still do drugs but and i meditate every day for two hours solid,it also stops you aging,so u dont grow old its mental 2 think by meditating and relaxing ur body you can stop the aging process,have a read up about it mate and let me know how you get on :):) and i will insist anytime

[HARDCORESTOMPER2010]

i used to take so many drugs mate for ten years now i dont need to take so much,have a look on google,com about opening the seven chakras and then learn about meditation,i have aspergers as you know and i did find life a big struggle before but now everything is going well because i meditate daily,mdma does make u more confident and everything but all drugs make u have a rapid heartrate i used to be a big pillhead back in the day but mdma is the safest,when uve meditated u wont need any drug

[m1nus37]

ASS BURGERS

[Ducksongstoned]

I have asperger syndrom and i smoke weed i get paraniod and rapid heartbeat is it a good idea if i try MDMA or will that just make me more anxious?

[Ducksongstoned]

@0ct0parr0t I still haven't got any links to getting some MDMA yet.

[0ct0parr0t]

@Ducksongstoned

trust me, cocaine is something you DONT want to start doing, just stick to MDMA every month or so

[Ducksongstoned]

@0ct0parr0t I'd give MDMA a try.

Just two days ago I tried like 20 dollars worth of cocaine and I was very worried I'll get a bad reaction when in fact I had felt like my anxiety level has been reduced a lot and after I snorted the Coke I felt really happy within seconds.

No anxiety at all from the coke but I smoked a some decent quailty marijuana and I started to feel a bit anxious.

[0ct0parr0t]

@Ducksongstoned

try it. if it works it works, if it doesnt, it doesnt. I have aspergers aswell and it has been a god send. after taking it just the once, i asure you it WONT make you paraniod at all, but it does have a 'come down' which a cup of tea will sort out nicely.

hope that helps.

[seereal12345]

just the fact that you have a tv on saids a lot to me

[wooger9375]

@smilingfaces201 What do you mean 'Do you have a degree on the wall?' wtf has that got to do with anything?!

and please if you think taking all these drugs is good for this guy then you are as delusional as he is.

[smilingfaces201]

@m1nus37 yes of course this is true. the trueth in this is...Does the interaction make it more helpful or farmfull? If your shy and reserved and you drink to break down the walls... then read people wrong or put yourselve in a bad situation because of bad judgement not so good. It also goes the othe way. I believe it's a good idea to have educated advice.

[smilingfaces201]

@wooger9375 wow. do you have a degree on the wall. I think not. if he seems weird or retarded to you maybe google what Aspergers is. This is a struggle of human relations, contact, reading peoples signals,and connecting.

this is very difficult for them to connect. Please show empathy, kindness and concideration. bad spelling. message is true to heart

[wooger9375]

This guy is faking nobody is really this weird and retarded.