THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF

ECSTASY

By: Josie Casillas

10/ 10/2010

PSY 370

WHAT IS ECSTASY?

Ecstasy is the street name for MDMA.

MDMA = 3, 4 Methylene-dioxy-N-methyl-amphetamine

The 3,4 indicates the way in which the components of the

molecule are joined together, as it is possible to produce

an isomer which has all the same components but is

joined differently. (Bellis, 2010)

Although it is derived from organic material, MDMA

itself does not occur in nature, and must be created in a

complex laboratory process. (Bellis, 2010)

WHAT IS ECSTASY (CONTINUED)…

• It is a mood/mind altering drug and like Prozac works by

effecting the chemical level of Serotonin in our brains, a

'neurotransmitter' that is naturally present in the brain which can alter

our emotions.

Chemically the drug is amphetamine like, but

psychologically it's what's known as an empathogen-

entactogen, empathogenic means the ability to

communicate things to others or the ability to feel empathy

towards others and entactogenic means feeling well or good

with yourself and the world. (Bellis, 2010)

WHAT DOES ECSTASY LOOK LIKE?

Usually Ecstasy comes in little easy to swallow

tablets. They vary in shape, size & color and

usually have some sort of logo printed on them.

(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)

POPULAR STREET NAMES FOR ECSTASY/

MDMA

X or E

Adam or Stacy

Empathy

Roll

Bean

XTC

Lover’s Speed

HISTORY OF ECSTASY

MDMA [aka. Ecstasy] was patented in 1913 (patent #274.350)

by the German chemical company Merck supposedly to be sold

as a diet pill (the patent does not mention any intended use), the

company decided against marketing the drug and had nothing

more to do with it…

Urban legend has it that the US army was testing MDMA in

1953 as a possible truth serum, but there is no real evidence

supporting this.

(Narconon, 2010).

PROFESSOR X

Alexander Shulgin [aka “Professor X”] is responsible for

brining MDMA back for modern research; who after graduating

from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in

biochemistry landed a job as a research chemist with Dow

Chemicals.

“MDMA is but one of 179 psychoactive drugs which he described

in detail, but it is the one which he felt came closest to fulfilling his

ambition of finding the perfect therapeutic drug” (Bellis, 2010)

HISTORY AND THE DEA

In 1985, after receiving massive media attention,

a group of people sued the DEA (US Drug

Enforcement Agency) to try to prevent them

from outlawing the drug by placing it on

Schedule 1. (Bellis, 2010).

However, later on that same year, congress passed a law to

allow the DEA to put an emergency ban on the drug because

of it’s dangers.

Some scientists argued that the drug caused brain damage

and therefore should not be used.

FDA ISSUES

Unfortunately in 1993, Trial research into the

effects of MDMA on human volunteers resumed

with the approval of the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA).

The first psychoactive drug approved for human testing by the

FDA. (Bellis, 2010)

Since 1993, not much has changed… While the

drug is still illegal on the streets, the FDA still

does regular testing of MDMA in different

regions under a schedule 1 license.

WHO USES?

Ecstasy is popular among middle-class adolescents and

young adults who use the drug for recreation.

It is also recognized as a popular “dance drug”.

It is sold by drug dealers at:

Bars

Underground Nightclubs

Raves' (all night parties)

WHY DO PEOPLE USE ECSTASY?

Drug Effects last between 4-6 hours.

Makes people feel:

Happy

Relaxed

Empathetic

Loved

Energetic

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Confusion

Depression

Anxiety

Sleeplessness

Craving for the drug

Paranoia

Confident

Hallucinations

Insomnia

DANGEROUS PHYSICAL EFFECTS

• Muscle Tension

• Involuntary Teeth Clenching

• Nausea

• Rapid Eye Movement

• Sweating or Chills

• Tremors

• Blurred Vision

• Increases body temperature

• Increases blood pressure

• Increases Heart Rate

• People who have circulatory problems or heart disease face particular risks because MDMA can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Brain Damage

Impairment of the serotonin system and memory performance

Depression

Heart failure

Kidney failure

Hyperthermia

Dehydration

Hypertension

(The Good Drugs Guide, 2010)

REFERENCE:

Bellis, M. (2010). The Invention of MDMA or Ecstasy. Retrieved on October 14, 2010 from

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980311.htm

Narconon. (2010). History of Ecstasy (MDMA). Retrieved on October 7, 2010 from

http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/ecstasy-history.html

National Drug Intelligence Center. (2006). MDMA (Ecstasy) Fast Facts. Retrieved on

October 14, 2010 from

http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3494/index.htm#look%20like

The Good Drugs Guide (2010). Ecstasy Effects. Retrieved on October 15, 2010 from

http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ecstasy/effects.htm