Cheynne - I always thought absinthe was a drug - I'm pretty sure it is illegal here (USA).
Aside from the arguing going on here, any one interested in drugs, drug use and reasons for making drugs illegal should read the book "Saying Yes." It is more pro drug use than against, so if you are a "just say no" kinda person, you might want to pass it by. I'm sorry, but I can't remember the author.
I would venture to say, that E being in the meth arena is going to make it much more lilkely to cause brain damage than to cause physical damage, but there is no proof and it was originally used in couples' counseling, so go stew on that for a while.
Lastly, I think anitbiotics have just as great a danger as anything else when taken in great quantites (as with any drug, I don't think E would be dangerous taken once or twice, but constant use, as with constant alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes, etc. is wherein the problem lies). So people on zithromax for long periods of time or any of the inhaled drugs should question the long term effectiveness and health risks. CF people haven't been living as long as we are now - thanks to these same drugs, so we will soon be finding out whether or not our advair or tobi everyday twice a day for the last ten years will in fact cause thyroid (breast, brain, etc.) cancer.