Washington (H24N). An imitation form of a popular club drug is proving deadly.

Federal law enforcement officials say the drug, paramethoxyamphetamine, or PMA, is a knockoff of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA), which is hugely popular with young club goers, especially those who attend so-called "rave" parties. Officials say use of PMA is linked to at least nine deaths among teen-agers and young adults.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), PMA users experience an effect similar to that of Ecstasy, what they call "profoundly positive feelings, empathy for others, elimination of anxiety and extreme relaxation." PMA also causes the same negative effects as Ecstasy, which include "nausea, hallucinations, chills, sweating, increases in body temperature, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision." Both drugs raise blood pressure, and their use can lead to faintness, a high body temperature and panic attacks.

While both drugs have potentially fatal consequences, PMA appears to be the more dangerous of the two. The DEA says dealers are sometimes passing off PMA as Ecstasy, and users often don't know the difference. So far law enforcement and customs officials have tracked PMA through Virginia, Michigan and Canada.

PMA was originally developed in the 1970s, but its use declined after a number of deaths at that time. The death of an Illinois teen in May was the first such case in nearly three decades; there have been eight more deaths since, including two more in Illinois and six in Florida.

NEWS AND TRENDS | CAREER CENTER | EDUCATION
Home | Resources
Site Index | Contact Us | FAQs | Subscribe | Advertise