Report of Ecstasy Drug’s Great Risks Is Retracted http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/health/06ECST.html
September 6, 2003
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
A leading scientific journal yesterday retracted a paper it published last year saying that one night's typical dose of the drug Ecstasy might cause permanent brain damage.
The monkeys and baboons in the study were not injected with Ecstasy but with a powerful amphetamine, said the journal, Science magazine.
The retraction was submitted by the team at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that did the study.
A medical school spokesman called the mistake "unfortunate" but said that Dr. George A. Ricaurte, the researcher who made it, was "still a faculty member in good standing whose research is solid and respected."
The study, released last Sept. 27, concluded that a dose of Ecstasy a partygoer would take in a single night could lead to symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease.
The study was ridiculed at the time by other scientists working with the drug, who said the primates must have been injected with huge overdoses.
Two of the 10 primates died of heat stroke, they pointed out, and another two were in such distress that they were not given all the doses.
If a typical Ecstasy dose killed 20 percent of those who took it, the critics said, no one would use it recreationally.
In an interview yesterday, Dr. Ricaurte said he realized his mistake when he could not reproduce his own results by giving the drug to monkeys orally. He then realized that two vials his laboratory bought the same day must have been mislabeled: one contained Ecstasy, the other d-methamphetamine.
Dr. Ricaurte's laboratory has received millions of dollars from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and has produced several studies concluding that Ecstasy is dangerous. Other scientists accuse him of ignoring their studies showing that typical doses do no permanent damage.
At the time Dr. Ricaurte's study was published, it was strongly defended against those critics by Dr. Alan I. Leshner, the former head of the drug abuse institute, who had just become the chief executive officer of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, which publishes Science.
Dr. Leshner had testified before Congress that Ecstasy was dangerous, and Dr. Ricaurte's critics accused him of rushing his results into print because a bill known as the Anti-Rave Act was before Congress. The act would punish club owners who knew that drugs like Ecstasy were being used at their dance gatherings.
Dr. Ricaurte yesterday called that accusation "ludicrous."
His laboratory made "a simple human error," he said.
"We're scientists, not politicians."
Asked why the vials were not checked first, he answered: "We're not chemists.
We get hundreds of chemicals here. It's not customary to check them."
MoD’s ‘N’ Wreckers – the DSEI arms fair. This weekend, thousands of terrorists from all over the world will
be descending on the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands for the
DSEI Arms Fair.
To greet them will be one million pounds worth of security - paid
for by the taxpayer. Two thousand officers from the Met, 300
British Transport Police, City of London police officers, Ministry
of Defence police, plain clothes detectives, security guards and
specialists from the Met's marine, dogs and horse units, have all
been drafted in. Not to arrest those selling weapons of mass
destruction but to protect those same, poor, arms dealers from
demonstrators who've vowed to try and shut down this 'trade in
death.'
Welcome to the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi -
pronounced dicey) Exhibition 2003, Europe's biggest arms fair.
Opening the fair will be Minister of War Geoff Hoon, while
delegations from no less than sixty countries will have their
accommodation and board paid for by the taxpayer while they shop
for weapons. Somewhat astutely, a senior officer from the Met says
they are anticipating a "major public order headache."
The UK arms industry accounts for 20% of world weapon sales and
after agriculture is the most heavily government subsided
industry. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) say that MoD
spending on research and development has increased by 27% over the
last year. Dr. Stuart Parkinson, SGR Director said: "Much of the
MoD's research and development is geared towards making weaponry,
sometimes for export to regimes with bad human rights records. It
would be much more ethical to use the scientific expertise to
accelerate, for example, the development of
environmentally-friendly technologies."
At the first DSEi in 1999, two separate breaches of the
International Landmines Act were uncovered by journalists. And in
2001, as planes were crashing into the World Trade Centre, 14
different Middle Eastern nations were shopping for weapons at the
Excel Centre, side by side with the US, Israel, Australia and the
UK. While thousands of other events around the world were
cancelled out of respect for the dead, DSEi stayed open and arms
dealers clocked up sales to Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the US,
Colombia, China and Russia.sales to Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
the US, Colombia, China and Russia.
Poor human rights record? There are two invitation lists to DSEi,
the official MoD list, which this year includes feuding neighbours
India and Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, and 'axis of evil' state
Syria. Then there's the organisers, Spearhead Ltd.'s, own secret
list, over which the MoD has consultation but ultimately no
control.
Spearhead have invited Afghanistan, Angola, Tanzania, and Israel.
No cash for health and education? Well DSEi has something for
everyone. The whole of next Thursday (11th) is dedicated to a
conference called 'Making Defence Affordable?'
The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is stunned: "Following
controversy about the UK licensing a £28million military air
traffic control system to Tanzania, which it neither needs nor can
afford, it is disturbing that Tanzania - one of the very poorest
countries in the world - has been invited to buy yet more arms."
Martin Hogbin, of CAAT underlines the obvious hypocrisy at work at
DSEi: "If the UK was serious about developing a lasting peace
between Israel and Palestine, we would not promote sales of more
arms into the region."
Companies exhibiting, alongside weapons giants Lockheed Martin and
BAE, include Bulgarian small arms firm Arsenal Company which is
reported to have sold £5-6 million of arms to Chad and Angola, as
well as supplying arms to Sierra Leone in breach of the UN
embargo. "Many of these companies have been fingered for shipping
arms, sometimes illegally, into regions of terrible conflict like
the Congo" says Hogbin. Others manufacture some of the most brutal
and indiscriminate weapons in the world, including landmines and
cluster bombs. At least two producers of depleted uranium shells
will be exhibiting this year.
In a half-arsed attempt at political correctness, Spearhead have
asked exhibitors not to display cluster bombs at DSEi! According
to UNICEF, more than 1000 children have been injured by cluster
bomblets and other unexploded weapons since the 'end' of the war
in Iraq. Of course, cluster bombs can still be bought at DSEi,
just not displayed, and like everything else on sale there they
will not be subject to UK export controls.
In the run up to DSEi activist groups have been targeting
exhibiting UK companies, such as Fluent in Sheffield and Cambridge
Consultants. Two weeks ago Spearhead's head office in New Malden
was occupied, and on Monday protesters - bound together by arm
tubes - blockaded the gates to the ExCel Centre for five hours,
preventing tanks being delivered to the exhibition. Police used
cutting equipment to remove the tubes and a number of people were
arrested under charges of obstructing the highway.
The police have promised to treat demonstrators "in the same sort
of way as the May Day riots" and have been issued blanket stop and
search laws under the Terrorism Act 2000. That's obviously because
people protesting about weapons that kill and maim are just bloody
terrorists that need to be stamped on - whereas those poor souls
trying to earn an honest living by selling weapons that kill and
maim - well, they need all the love, affection and money we can
throw at 'em.
http://www.partyvibe.com/vbulletin/calendar.php?s=&action=getinfo&eventid=315
http://www.partyvibe.com/vbulletin/calendar.php?s=&action=getinfo&eventid=313
http://www.partyvibe.com/vbulletin/calendar.php?s=&action=getinfo&eventid=317
Insanity Looms ! Whilst dabbling with a bit of the old special K! (not large amounts) I became aware of dark voices calling me from the distance of the woods. Has anyone experienced hearing messed up voices before on the K route? Is this normal? Or do I need to stop dabbling?
Answers on a postcard ;P
New Regular free Techno Party The LondonTechno Collective Have set up a new, and free Techno Night in London. Here are the details. It`s a new venture and we need your support, so bring yer gran if you have too.
New regular Club Night every other Thursday
Techno and Tech-House
Each night will feature new label promotions and live acts playing or promoting the latest techno and tech-house which means you get to hear the freshest stuff before anyone else. There will be white label and CD giveaways for early entry and a record stall selling the latest hot tunes. The first few events will be free. The venue is a funky club/bar in london with a wicked basement for events, friendly staff and good central location.
White Label, @ Lime, 1 curtain road London, EC2A 3JX corner of worship st and curtain rd Nearest Tube: Liverpool St
8pm till 2am
Free entry
Contact 07790850154 all info www.londontechno.co.uk
2nd Event Electronik Music Distribution Ltd Promo Night: From House to Techno Launching Open Source Recordings and featuring Jeff Amadeus-3 Decks (Squat Records) Sebastian Marx - Live (Open Source) Mutate and Distort (M A D Records) Pat Hurley and Dirty Bass Bak 2 Bak Dark House Set Little Fella! (LondonTechno)
Cheers
Big Love
Steve D-Bass
One For All, All For One, Unity is Our Strenght!!!! hi all, czektekk was simply veery amazing. we have partied for over a week in a very good location, with friendly village people. only few verbal complains, nothing major. for those interested here is a map of it all: http://www.hypno.cz/czechtek-2003-map/ . we counted over 90 sound systems...almost double of CT 02. even though all this good, the whole scene has been badly hurt by an accident which hapened a little while ago. our friend, Migel, from komatsu sound system is now imprisioned in hungary. we all are doing all we can to help him. we ask you, dear ANYONE, if you can do anything to help, him, us, you be better. here is more info: http://mb.freetekno.cz/english.php . i will be soon back to lodnon where i will do a few steps to help you to help him.
thank you to all
RPC Errors (Anyone running Windows 2000/XP – read) alright, anyone whos been getting RPC errors, your computer has been under attack. Apparently theres a security flaw in any NT based PC which Microsoft (being the geniuses they are) just lovingly left out in the open, and over the past 24 hours, tens upon thousands of PCs have been under relentless attack.
To prevent this RPC warning (the primary issues it causes are inexpected system shut downs) download the Security Patch issued by Microsoft in the link below:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp
Spread the information, this is getting quite severe (people on my buddy list have been dropping like flies).
This warning does not pertain to Windows ME, 98, or 95 based PCs.
babble free party sept 13th 03 A shameless self promoting plug if I may??? Babble are kicking off the Autumn with a free party @ the charlotte Oxford st Leicester on sat 13th sept usual babble allstars providing the very best in deep /jackin underground house ...9 til 2 am all welcome no dress restrictions positive attitude only...all welcome, come give praise in the
towers of babble and its all freeeeeeeee.
;)
Babylon 2 – Ravers 0 Ok people the last two parties have been busted, thinks its time to go further afield? Out of Avon & North Somerset Pigs reach?
Thought about a change of number or anything along those lines?
I don't know alot about free parties, i just call the number and go along... But dissident are the best ones for me.
I'm sure you guys are aware of the situation and whats to be done, and i would think the law are reading this?
I've got a forum too but i don't know how much more secure it would be. I can switch it so topics are only avaidable on loging in and personally vet every new member. It would be a bit of work but I'd like to help the cause!
Peace.
-=ill=-
P.S. I want a hoody where do i get one?
an ode to my daily depression it's been a while since i have been able to get on the net and just tell some one about my depression. i know that i can make it but some days seem to be worse then others. i drift sometimes and i wish i would just come back to reality,but i know that i am lost and i can't seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.most ppl tell me to look deepinside myself and find my happy place, and well i try but it is hard. i guess i'm glad that i have found my muisc it helps me to escape from my life and makes me feel that all is right with my world.so when i feel that i want to die or that i need to cut myself to watch me bleed that helps it hurts but it makes me feel good and well i don't want to do it but i do. i guess this is not much of an ode but i just needed to let it out so as depressed as i am i guess ijust well i just want to get better and i'm sorry if i am boring you all but i just need to let it out.do you ever get depressed how does it make you feel..............
No Dirty Skirters about??? DOES NE1 KNOW IF THE DIRTY CIRCUS MESSAGE BOARD IS STILL WORKING, I TRIED IT YESTERDAY EVRYRTHING WAS FINE, BEEN TRYING ALL DAY TODAY, AND KEEPS SAYING PAGE NOT DISPLAYED, DOES NE1 KNOW IF ITS DOWN, OTHERWISE MY FUCKIN WORKJS PROBABLY BLOCKING IT12
Acid Why is acid so hard to come by these days?
Ten years ago it was everywhere, now all thats about are weak ecstacy pills, that you have to take 6-10 a night.
Maybe its just Yorkshire where its impossible to get hold of them, WHY?
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