Nevan Hanford
Systematic review of the health effects of non-clinical MDMA use
Over the past two decades, there has been a resurgence in both clinical and non-clinical use of psychedelics, raising important public health questions about their therapeutic potential and possible adverse effects. MDMA-assisted therapy has recently been shown to offer significant clinical benefits for individuals suffering from PTSD, suggesting a possible legal and medical use for the substance. At the same time, recreational use of MDMA has been associated with various cognitive deficits, highlighting the need for further research into its health effects. Our study aims to shed light on this issue through a systematic review of the health effects linked to non-clinical, naturalistic use of MDMA. Drawing from over 130 studies dating back to 1999, we are extracting and analyzing data on health outcomes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of MDMA’s health impact, including dose-response relationships, confounding variables, and the degree of causality indicated in the literature.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for the opportunity to truly dive into the project I have been working on for over a year. Being able to stay in Berkeley and immerse myself in research over the summer will be an incredible experience—one that I will never forget.