In the United States, the spreading use of "club drugs" among youths is a growing concern. The term "club drugs" refers to illicit substances frequently found at nightclubs and all-night dance parties known as "raves." Among the most controversial and popular of these drugs is MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), or "ecstasy," a mildly hallucinogenic stimulant. The drug is prized for the euphoric rush experienced by its users.

Numerous drug abuse experts urgently advise against using ecstasy. Alan I. Leshner, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, warns, "Chronic abuse of MDMA appears to produce long-term damage to serotonin-containing neurons in the brain. Given the important role that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays . . . it is likely that MDMA use can cause a variety of behavioral and cognitive consequences as well as impairing memory." Other experts claim that some long-term risks of taking ecstasy have...