Ecstasy risk tests used wrong drug

Scientists have been forced into a humiliating climbdown after it emerged that a high-profile study into the dangers of ecstasy was bungled.

Research showing that taking the drug for just one evening could cause irreversible brain damage and trigger the onset of Parkinson's disease was wrong.

The US study, published in the eminent journal Science, provoked a wave of alarm, with anti-drug crusaders speaking of a 'neurological time bomb' facing the young.

But it emerged this weekend that ecstasy was not used in the experiments. A labelling mix-up instead saw laboratory monkeys and baboons injected with methamphetamine, or speed.

The blunder will re-ignite the debate about ecstasy, taken by 1million clubbers in Britain each weekend.

Yesterday, the chief researcher at Maryland's Johns Hopkins University, where the study was conducted, remained bullish.

George Ricaurte said 'a simple human error' was made by his team, adding: 'We're scientists, not chemists. We get hundreds of chemicals here - it's not customary to check them.' The study, published last September, said laboratory animals had a severe reaction to small doses of the drug, with two out of ten dying quickly.

But, when follow-up tests gave conflicting results, the mistake came to light.

A retraction of the study will be published in this week's Science.

Prof Joe Collier, of St George's Hospital Medical School in London, said: 'It is embarrassing. A lot of self-questioning will be going on over there but it's important we learn from this.'

Richard Kramer, of drugs charity Turning Point, said despite the error, Ecstasy was still a dangerous drug.

'Although the effects of long-term use are still not known, short-term effects include increased heart rate, depression, nausea and anxiety,' he warned.

Earlier this year, researchers at London Metropolitan University found heavy ecstasy users were more likely to suffer from clinical depression.