107th Congress

Ecstasy Use Rises: What More Needs to be Done by the Government to Combat the Problem -- Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs -- July 30, 2001

Members Present:

Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Chairman; Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and Jim Bunning (R-KY).

Witnesses:

Panel One: Phillip McCarthy, Patient, Phoenix House Rehabilitation Center; and Dayna Moore, Patient, Phoenix House Rehabilitation Center.

Panel Two: Alan Leshner, Director, NIDA; John Bailey, Chief State's Attorney, State of Connecticut; Joseph Keefe, Chief of Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Roy Rutland, Detective, Miami-Dade Police Department; John Varrone, Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service; and Dr. Don Vereen, Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Summary:

Purpose of Hearing: The hearing was convened to learn more about the combined and coordinated efforts on the part of the Federal Government to effectively and efficiently combat the threat of Ecstasy. The Committee brought together a broad spectrum of Federal agencies to describe the public health threat of MDMA from the law enforcement, interdiction, education, prevention and research perspectives.

Opening Statements:Senator Lieberman opened the hearing by expressing his concern for the growing trends in Ecstasy use, especially in young people. The increase in usage, accORDing to the Senator, is reaching "epidemic proportions." This is evidenced by recent findings that show MDMA has replaced inhalants as the second most abused drug by high school students. More troublesome, Senator Lieberman noted is that while the drug's harmful effects are well documented, most adolescents do not perceive them as harmful.

In his opening statement, Senator Bunning related his concerns over his home state of Kentucky's recent surge in Ecstasy use, including the fact that regional airports now appear to be awash with the trafficking of MDMA. He called efforts to control Ecstasy distribution a "constant battle."

Lastly, in his opening remarks, Senator Akaka recognized the public health threat, even in his native Hawaii. It is his hope, he explained, to have the islands designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The recent bill, S. 1208, the Ecstasy Prevention Act of 2001, the Senator pointed out, would provide for more federal dollars to designate HIDTAs, along with an awareness campaign aimed at teens.

Statements of Witnesses and Questions:

Panel I: Ms. Moore and Mr. McCarthy both testified before the Committee about their battles with Ecstasy addiction as teenagers. Both are now going through drug treatment at the Phoenix House Rehabilitation Center. Ms. Moore described how she began taking the drug at the age of 14, and how quickly her drug habit led to harder drugs, such as cocaine and angel dust. Mr. Moore told the Committee how he first tried Ecstasy because his friends were doing it, but he ended up with a $300 per week Ecstasy habit that he supported through burglary.

Questions

Senator Lieberman asked both witnesses if they had heard MDMA was harmful before trying the drug. Both Ms. Moore and Mr. McCarthy said they did not realize how dangerous Ecstasy could be. Senator Lieberman also wanted to know if they were first introduced at "rave" parties. Neither of the witnesses had been, and they told the Committee they first used it with friends in private homes. Lastly, Senator Lieberman questioned the two on how easily available the drug was. Both said that it was very easy for teens to get a hold of.

Senator Bunning asked Ms. Moore if she had used any other drugs before trying Ecstasy. She testified that she had begun smoking marijuana in the year prior to her first exposure to MDMA. Further, the Senator questioned the witnesses on whether or not they had heard any sort of prevention messages or educational campaigns on the dangers of Ecstasy. Both Ms. Moore and Mr. McCarthy said they had not heard anything specifically on Ecstasy.

Panel II: The second panel focused on the Federal response to the growth of Ecstasy use. Dr. Vereen, speaking on behave of the ONDCP, emphasized the collaborative efforts between law enforcement, prevention and research arms of the Government, along with cooperation between the agencies and state and local partners. He also described the epidemiological stages of a drug's growth in popularity, and warned that MDMA was clearly in an "expansion" phase.

Dr. Leshner then testified on the state of the science regarding Ecstasy, and what on-going research has taught us. Detailing some of the potential health consequences of use and abuse, Dr. Leshner said the most troubling aspect of MDMA was its impact on the brain's serotonin. He also informed the Committee of NIDA's recent National Conference on MDMA Research, which focused not only on what is known about the drug, but what needs to be emphasized in future investigations.

Mr. Varrone testified as to the Customs Service's efforts to control the flow of Ecstasy into the United States, as an overwhelming percentage of the drug comes from overseas. He also pointed out that the nation's best defense against MDMA was reducing the demand for the drug. Mr. Keefe of the DEA echoed these concerns in his testimony, detailing the source countries for Ecstasy and the groups believed to control the drug's distribution. He also testified that the DEA was broadening its enforcement efforts by encouraging local authorities to use Federal crackhouse statutes against rave clubs, as well as nuisance abatement laws.

Mr. Bailey and Detective Rutland represented state and local efforts to confront the Ecstasy problem. In his testimony, Mr. Bailey described how his state was creatively using nuisance abatement laws to clean up clubs that featured "raves" and the selling of MDMA. Detective Rutland told the Committee about his undercover activities in south Florida, and described from his first-hand account how pervasive Ecstasy is in the club scene.

Questions

Senator Lieberman asked why MDMA is now such a problem in the United States. Mr. Keefe explained that MDMA has been popular in clubs in Europe for some time and has finally made its way to this country. Dr. Vereen added that the marketing of Ecstasy is extraORDinarily different from other drugs in the past. The Senator then asked if there were any legitimate uses for Ecstasy. Dr. Leshner answered that a small minority has advocated its use in psychotherapy, but there has never been a controlled clinical trial demonstrating its usefulness for any purpose.

Senator Bunning asked the panel what could be done to help parents to keep their kids off the drug. Dr. Leshner pointed out that they need to be aware that MDMA is an "equal opportunity destroyer" and that every child is at risk. He went on to say that while there are few physical clues to detection, parents should be aware that Ecstasy use is usually accompanied by dramatic mood change, both before and after use.

Prepared by Keith Van Wagner/NIDA, July 30, 2001