Activity 3: Article Analysis

Article 1: Residual neurocognitive features of long-term ecstasy users with minimal exposure to other drugs

This article discussed the different studies that have been done with the objective of looking at how the use of ecstasy with limited use of any other drugs, can affect an individual’s cognitive functions. It stated that previous studies have not only been inconsistent, but not as reliable because of the fact that they haven’t accounted for certain factors like making sure all participants are involved in the “rave” culture, and believes to have accounted for all these things with their own study. This point essentially, is a tactic trying to persuade the reader to be convinced the study done by the individuals who wrote the article, is more reliable than the rest. The results of the study mentioned in the article show that there are only few differences between those who use ecstasy heavily, those who use it moderately, and those who do not use it at all, and those differences are not all the same for the different categories of cognitive skills that were tested. The researchers then make the point that other factors can attest for these results, or work in a combination with the use of ecstasy to bring the results they did. One thing I noticed that seemed flawed with their own study was the fact that initially, the researchers did a phone screening in which participants were asked questions about their use with ecstasy and other things, which would have made it extremely easy or a participant to fabricate a lie about the topic, especially because they were answering over the phone and not face to face. Another problem I noticed was that the neuropsychological testing was scheduled about four weeks after the baseline interview in which participants were not supposed to use ecstasy as well as go to all night parties for at least ten days before the testing. In regards to the using of ecstasy, the researchers took the precautions needed to account for this, but they had no way of knowing an individual didn’t go to an all-night party the night before the testing.

Article 2: Myocardial Infarction Associated With Use of the Synthetic Cannabinoid K2

            This article talks about the possible link between young individuals who use synthetic cannabinoids and issues with the heart, including myocardial infarction. The article talks about three specific individuals who used marijuana as well as these synthetic cannabinoids and had to be taken to the emergency room because of pain in the chest. These three cases, the article suggests, shows there is some sort of relationship between K2, one form of the synthetic cannabinoids, and acute myocardial infarction. The problem I see with the “study” mentioned in this article is they only looked at cases of three individuals, which cannot give an acceptable amount of information to make a generalization about any type of correlation between these synthetic cannabinoids and heart problems. All of these subjects also smoked marijuana not too long before these pains occurred which can said to have caused these chest pains, or work in combination with these synthetic cannabinoids. There just wasn’t enough done in the study to fully conclude there is such an association between K2 alone, and MI.

Article 3: “Spice” Girls: Synthetic Cannabinoid Intoxication

            This article also addresses the use of synthetic cannabinoids, but makes it seems that even though there has been little research on their use and effects on people, these effects aren’t that serious and the use of these synthetics is going to continue to rise within the country. The effects talks about temporary anxiety as being one of these effects, and the tone of the article makes it seem like because this anxiety is temporary, it isn’t something serious enough to deter people from using it. The article only talks about two patients, which definitely cannot give you enough information to make such a statement, and therefore causes me to question the validity of their conclusion.

            The first two articles hold a theme of trying to explain the dangers of these two controversial drugs, which actually falls in line with theme the media and society have taken on regarding controversial drugs. Trying to “scare” people to refrain from using these drugs is a tactic we have seen our country use before, especially with the use of marijuana. I am not saying these drugs aren’t harmful at all, but the claims the first two articles make regarding the drugs do not seem to hold much weight in regard to the studies mentioned in them. The last article actually does the opposite, and makes it seem like synthetic cannabinoids aren’t as harmful and will therefore use will increase. This is something we have talked about in class as we have talked about E cigarettes and how legal alternatives to certain drugs are being created that might be more harmful than helpful.