The University of Iowa is conducting a study seeking adults who are recreational users of the drug ecstasy.
U-of-I Researcher Amanda Farmer says participants will undergo a series of tests. "They’re going to measure things like vision and thinking. They’ll have to remember words, solve puzzles, look at items on a computer screen," she says. "The second part…a driving simulator."
The university is looking for adults between the ages of 21 and 45 who have no history of neurological disorders and are frequent users of the drug to take part in the study.
Farm says the driving simulator testing is an important part of the research. "We’re looking at the differences in driving between people who do and do not use recreational substances," she says.
Farmer says they want to examine the lasting effects of the drug. She says participants will be tested prior to the study to ensure they are not high on ecstasy.
The drug is illegal — but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will ensure no one participating will be prosecuted because study results are used solely for medical research.