Is There Significant Abuse Of Ephedra Caused By Addiction?
The answer to this question is “Absolutely not.” There are established scientific methods for determining whether a particular product, such as Ephedra, poses a drug abuse problem. Such reviews must include a thorough review of the pharmacology and medical literature relating to the product, as well as a review of reports on the actual experience with the product, called epidemiological data.
Dietary supplements containing Ephedra and more potent over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine have been thoroughly examined by a recognized drug abuse expert, Dr. Edgar Adams, who has issued a detailed report of his findings. His conclusion is that:
[t]here is no evidence in either the U.S. or in other countries of significant abuse of ephedrine and no evidence of abuse of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. In fact, the existing evidence supports the hypothesis that the abuse or misuse of ephedrine containing products is not a significant problem. This is true despite the wide availability of ephedrine products over the last 40 years.
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