Abstract
The impact of ecstasy/polydrug use on real-world memory (i.e. everyday memory, cognitive failures and prospective memory [PM]) was investigated in a
sample of 42 ecstasy/polydrug users and 31 non-ecstasy users. Laboratory-based PM tasks were administered along with self-reported measures of PM to
test whether any ecstasy/polydrug-related impairment on the different aspects of PM was present. Self-reported measures of everyday memory and
cognitive failures were also administered. Ecstasy/polydrug associated deficits were observed on both laboratory and self-reported measures of PM and
everyday memory. The present study extends previous research by demonstrating that deficits in PM are real and cannot be simply attributed to
self-misperceptions. The deficits observed reflect some general capacity underpinning both time- and event-based PM contexts and are not task
specific. Among this group of ecstasy/polydrug users recreational use of cocaine was also prominently associated with PM deficits. Further research
might explore the differential effects of individual illicit drugs on real-world memory.

Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology 0(00) 1–12 2010