Facing death with ecstacy

[zengrifter]

Facing death with ecstacy

Researchers are taking a new look at whether banned drugs such as MDMA could help cancer sufferers come to terms with death, or rape victims talk about their ordeal

By Scott Allen
NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , BOSTON
Sunday, May 21, 2006

Diane never smoked marijuana, and she disapproved of her mother's past drug experiments. But cancer made the 33-year-old teacher ready to try anything that might help: she hoped she would find a cure in herbs from a Tibetan doctor or in the hands of a faith healer deep in the Brazilian rain forest.

Then, as the pain and fatigue of advanced colon cancer left Diane increasingly bedridden, she just wanted the strength to get out of bed.

That's when she found ecstasy, the illegal drug people often take at all-night dance parties. Though ecstasy can damage hearts and brain cells, some researchers say the hallucinogen can also inspire deep feelings of well-being and intimacy with others.

...continued here - http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat.../21/2003309385