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Ecstasy

A highly publicized 2002 study found that ecstasy causes brain damage. But the study was flawed. The professor conducting the study mixed up his stashes and accidentally gave crystal to his lab animals instead of E. (The monkeys were thrilled!) Strike out that flawed research, and there's little scientific proof that ecstasy causes anything other than possible memory loss.

Cigarettes

Yes, they cause lung cancer, but a University of Houston study found that the nicotine in cigarettes may counteract the effects of stress on the brain, improve memory, and possibly even held fight certain debilitating diseases, like Parkinson's.

Marijuana

Prior research has shown that pot can help fight the effects of Alzheimer's and HIV. And now, University of California researchers also found that marijuana causes little or no long-term damage to the central nervous system.

Don't like these findings? Wait 15 minutes. They could change.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning