LV lab testing for drug abused at raves, dance clubs

Associated Pathologists Laboratories of Las Vegas said it will begin testing for Ecstasy, known chemically as MDMA, in all hair specimens submitted for drugs of abuse testing effective Aug. 1.

Ecstasy, a hybrid of the hallucinogen mescaline and the stimulant amphetamine, has become a popular drug of abuse in the dance club and rave party scenes.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse said people may use Ecstasy to improve their moods or get energy. But chronic use of Ecstasy appears to cause death or damage to the brain's ability to regulate emotion, memory, sleep and pain.

APL said Ecstacy detection will be added to its current hair test at no additional charge to APL clients. Other drugs routinely detected by hair analysis include amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates and PCP.

Hair testing can detect drug use for the past 90 days and is quickly becoming the preferred method for screening prospective employees by many U.S. corporations, APL said.

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