One in five brain scans for those who had
used speed, ecstasy and crystal meth
were found to have brain abnormalities.
Image: sx70/iStockphoto
New WA research has revealed that one in five young people seeking
emergency medical attention related to amphetamine drug use in a recent
study had abnormalities on brain scans.
The project, undertaken by the Western Australian Institute for
Medical Research's Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine,
was carried out from April 2008 to July 2009.
Chief Investigator and University of Western Australia Professor
Daniel Fatovich said 30 patients presenting to the emergency department
of Royal Perth Hospital took part in the study.
"Thirty of those patients who had used drugs such as speed, ecstasy
and crystal methamphetamine, underwent MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
brain scans and 20 per cent - one in five of them - were found to have
brain abnormalities," he said.
"There is emerging evidence of serious long term effects from
amphetamine use and this research is congruent with evidence that
amphetamines cause brain injury."
"Drug use has a huge impact on the community so the hope is that
this type of research can be used to help educate the community in
public health and the serious long term effects of amphetamine use."
The men and women in the study had an average age of 27.
Professor Fatovich presented his findings earlier this week
(Wednesday September 1) to the 17th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol
2010 Symposium being held at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. The study
is to be published in the Medical Journal of Australia on 6 September.
The research was funded by the Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation.
The Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine (CCREM) is
focused on research activities within the spectrum of Emergency
Medicine. More information is available at www.ccrem.org.au.
Editor's Note:
Original news release can be found here.
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