What You Need to Know about Ecstasy

Ecstasy was originally developed in Germany in 1917 as an appetite suppressant. It never made it to market, however, due to some “unpleasant” side effects. Ecstasy surfaced in the U.S. in the 1970s when it was used by psychiatrists to treat various conditions. In the 90s, ecstasy became the drug of choice for persons attempting to “reconnect” with each other in an impersonal society. Today, ecstasy is popular on the rave and dance club scene and used by teens and young adults.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2006 there were an estimated 528,000 people (0.2 percent of the population) in the U.S. who reported using ecstasy in the month prior to being surveyed. These included individuals from age 12 and up. The survey also indicated that 860,000 persons in the U.S. used the drug for the first time in 2006 and most (70.1 percent) of these new users were 18 or older.

From 2006 to 2007, according to the NSDUH report covering 2007, use of ecstasy among individuals aged 18 to 25 declined, from 1.0 to 0.7 percent.

What Is Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug whose scientific name is MDMA (3.4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) characterizes ecstasy as a “psychoactive drug” that is similar chemically to methamphetamine (a stimulant) and mescaline (a hallucinogen).

Common Street  Names for Ecstasy

Street names include Adam, beans, clarity, crystal, disco biscuit, E, go, hug drug, love drug, lover’s speed, MDMA, roll, X, and XTC.

Identifying Ecstasy

Ecstasy comes in a tablet or capsule, often with names stamped on it such as “Playboy bunnies” or “Nike swoosh” or “CK.” Imprints of street names may include Adam, Love or include a happy face or other icons. The ecstasy tablets or capsules come in a rainbow of colors.

How Is Ecstasy Used?

Users take ecstasy orally, either as a tablet or capsule. While users at raves and techno clubs still take ecstasy, the NIDA reports that the user profile has changed to include more ethnic groups, including urban gay males. Users also often partake in a smorgasbord of drugs that include ketamine, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and other legal and illegal drugs.

Ecstasy is often combined with alcohol and/or other drugs such as GHB.

The Effects of Ecstasy

People take ecstasy as a so-called “mood elevator.” What this means is the drug gives them a temporary high, a feeling of relaxation and euphoria. Effects are felt between 20 and 40 minutes after taking the drug, and can last for 4 to 5 hours. A rush, accompanied by nausea, often is part of the experience. The peak occurs 60 to 90 minutes after taking ecstasy.

Users report sensations of empathy, feelings of emotional warmness and self acceptance. In addition, users say they still feel they’re in control of the situation and that the overall experience is very pleasant.

Why Us Ecstasy  Bad for You?

Pure ecstasy is hard to find. Often what appears on the street is doctored or adulterated with any number of substances, including speed, PMA(paramethoxyamphetamine), PCP (phencyclidine), and DXM (dextromethorphan). Depression is another common negative consequence of taking ecstasy, due to the action of the drug on the brain’s chemicals.

Other negative side-effects and consequences of taking ecstasy include:

• Adverse reactions due to mixing alcohol and ecstasy

• Blurred vision

• Chills and/or sweating

• Clenching of teeth on an involuntary basis

• Death

• Faintness

• Hyperthermia, a sharp increase in body temperature that can result in failure to the liver, kidney and cardiovascular systems, ending in death

• Increase in heart rate and blood pressure (potentially leading to heart attack and stroke)

• Muscle tension

• Nausea

• Potential neurotoxic damage (demonstrated in laboratory tests with animals)

Is Ecstasy Addictive?

Ecstasy has been illegal since 1985. It is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Users can be arrested and go to prison for lengthy sentences.

Although some sources claim it’s not physically addictive, users can become habituated to its use. In other words, they crave the euphoric feeling they get from taking ecstasy and keep on taking it despite negative effects. When taken repeatedly, however, ecstasy begins to lose its effect.

The NIDA, however, states that ecstasy can be addictive to some people. A survey of ecstasy young adult and adolescent users showed that 43 percent met accepted diagnostic criteria for dependence – they continued usage despite knowing its physical and psychological consequences, effects of withdrawal and tolerance.

Withdrawal from chronic ecstasy use can include symptoms of fatigue, depression, loss of appetite and problems with concentration.

Because it releases serotonin into the brain, which causes users to experience an elevated mood, ecstasy also masks depression, acting literally as a short-term antidepressant. Persons who are chronically depressed may by trying to use ecstasy as a means of treating depression, even though they don’t realize that’s what they’re doing. Depression should be treated by a qualified physician and or psychotherapist.

Tags: Club Drugs, ecstasy, raves