The Agony and the Ecstasy

Rick Weiss of the Washington Post reports today that the FDA has approved a proposal to test the illegal street drug "Ecstasy" for treatment of severe anxiety in terminally ill patients. Ecstasy, also known as MDMA or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is currently being tested for its ability to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychiatrists refer to the drug as an "empathogen" helping to put people in touch with their emotions. Researchers at Harvard, who obtained permission from ethics review boards at Harvard and Lahey Clinic, to submit this proposal, believe that this drug could contribute significantly to the range of palliative care strategies available to patients who must face the emotional challenge of the end of their lives.[Link] - Linda Glenn.