Teenagers are beginning to use the club drug Ecstasy on a more widespread and regular basis. The use of Ecstasy is an epidemic now with teenagers. It's like cocaine in the 1980s."

In fact, the current popularity of Ecstasy could be the No. 1 public health problem in the United States.

Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a popular club drug that acts like both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. The drug, taken in pill form, produces a 4- to 6-hour high.

Researchers recently reported that Ecstasy, along with steroids, were the only two drugs increasing in use by teenagers, Rogers said. For example, 11% of high school seniors reported using the drug sometime in the past month, while a year ago, only 6% did.

Rogers reported on some disturbing new trends in the use of Ecstasy. Some teens who are developing a tolerance are beginning to take it more often and in settings other than dance clubs, Rogers said.

Others are first taking Prozac, a drug that modulates the mood-altering brain chemical serotonin, before taking Ecstasy to enhance the drug's release of serotonin.

The scary thing is it's got this reputation of being safe. It's not.

Immediate side effects include jaw clenching, nausea, tremors, and in extreme cases, potentially fatal elevations in body temperature. Research suggests heavy users of the drug may suffer long-term problems, such as impaired memory and liver damage.

There have been several deaths associated with teens who caused damage to the brain by drinking too much water preparing for use of the drug. Many teens drink large amounts of water to counteract the raised body temperature induced by the drug.

The drug clears the system within 12 to 16 hours and two thirds of drug-detection methods will fail to pick it up unless specifically directed to screen for it.

However, most pediatricians fail to screen their patients for Ecstasy use due to lack of time or training.

American Academy of Pediatrics' Annual Meeting San Francisco October 20, 2001