THE persistent use of ecstasy leads to a loss of everyday memory, according to researchers at a North-East university.

In the study, conducted by experts at Northumbria University, in Newcastle, 23 regular users of the drug were compared to 30 people who had never used the drug.

They were then asked to complete a questionnaire to assess long and short-term aspects of memory for future events, such as remembering to meet with friends, posting a letter or switching off lights.

They were also asked to take part in a video-based memory task involving a shopping scenario where they had to remember to buy certain items in different shops.

The results of the study revealed that ecstasy users had, on average, 29 per cent more memory-related problems and remembered to buy an average of 25 per cent less shop items than non-users.

Dr Tom Heffernan, who led the study, said: "We think ecstasy can affect certain parts of the brain directly, or interrupt the transmitters that send messages around the brain." This is the first time objective, video-based research has been used with ecstasy users in relation to everyday memory.

The findings have been presented to the British Psychological Society.