Ecstasy / MDMA
Ecstasy (MDMA) is illegal to manufacture, supply and possess. Ecstasy's purity is problematic – composition of tablet is never known and one who buys it gets mixture containing ecstasy (greatly varying concentrations) and other dangerous, addictive substances. In 1950s Ecstasy was tested by U.S. military forces as a potential chemical weapon. It has its 'great times' in 1980s when dance scene becomes popular in America and Europe. That was the times when Ecstasy hadn't been banned by governments of many countries yet. Ecstasy as 'club drug' remains very popular among young people until today – it increases positive feelings during listening to the music and dancing. Long-term use is believed to cause mental health problems, especially chronic depression. MDMA is a special substance that lies between hallucinogens and stimulants because its action can be described by effects which are characteristic both for typical hallucinogens and typical stimulants. From medical point of view it's considered as stimulant but interestingly Ecstasy possesses also some hallucinogenic properties. There is an opinion, that Ecstasy mod of action is like a mixture of effects experienced after amphetamine and LSD use. So does pharmacological effects.
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Trade
Trade & street names | Ecstasy, Adam, brownies, burgers, Dennis the Menace, disco biscuits, doves, E, Edward, Eve, essence, fantasy, love doves, love drugs, M and Ms, MDA, MDMA, New Yorkers, rhubarb and custard, shamrocks, white doves, X, XTC |
Products | no commercial products (illegal substance) |
Medical info
Class | hallucinogens |
Medical use | no medical uses |
Routes | snorted, smoked but mainly oral – in form of capsules or colorful tablets often with logos and pictures |
Effects of use | feeling of empathy with others, heightened senses, teeth grinding, dilated pupils, tighten jaw, brief nausea, sweating, dry mouth and throat, thirstiness, loss of apetitedehydratation, insomnia, anorexia, elevation of mood, blood-clotting abnormalities, lacks of energy and sleep problems |
Effects of overdose | increased body temperature, electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrest |
Withdrawal effects | muscle aches, drowsiness, depression, acne |
Onset | 20-50 minutes |
Duration of action | 4-6 hours |
Chemistry
Chemical name | 1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine |
Chemical formula | C11H15NO2 |
Molecular mass | 193.25 g/mol |
