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Upcoming Club Drug Research at Columbia University
Only a limited number of laboratory
studies have evaluated empirical data
regarding the acute effects of “club drugs”
in humans. This study will evaluate the
residual effects of a broad range of behavioral
and physiological measures using
moderate doses of several club drugs in
human volunteers. Using carefullycontrolled
residential laboratory procedures,
in which participants live in a
laboratory without outside contact for
15 days, researchers will systematically
evaluate the effects of club drugs on
workplace performance. Workplace
performance will be measured using a
wide range of tests that evaluate cognitive
functions such as divided attention and
memory. In these studies, researchers will
determine the effects of acute and repeated
club drug administration the day of
administration, as well as the morning
after administration (i.e., “hangover”), on
behaviors relevant to workplace perfor-
mance. Drugs to be tested include
methamphetamine (speed),
methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA, ecstasy), gammahydroxybutyrate
(GHB), or zolpidem
(Ambien).
Low drug doses will be evaluated,
minimizing the number of drug deliveries
per participant. The primary goal of this
NIDA-funded study is to carefully evaluate
the effects of club drugs on ongoing
behavior under conditions simulating
those outside the laboratory. The dosing
regimen employed in this study will
closely parallel recreational use of club
drugs by humans in our society. Because
there is little data available from laboratory
studies on human performance after
repeated controlled administration of club
drugs, the proposed studies will make a
unique contribution to the scientific
database about the acute and residual
effects of club drugs.
RESEARCH
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
The Substance Use
Research Center at
Columbia University
seeks healthy men
or women (age 21 - 45)
users of MDMA/ECSTASY
to participate in residential
studies evaluating
medication effects. Live
on a research unit at
the NYS Psychiatric Institute
for 15-17 days.
You can earn
approximately $1129.
For information,
call (212) 543-5982. |