Ecstasy

WHAT IS ECSTASY?

Ecstasy is MDMA, or 3,4-Methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine. It belongs to a family of drugs called "enactogens," which literally means "touching within."

MDMA was originally used by psychologists and therapists as a therapeutic tool.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?

MDMA produces a relaxed, euphoric state. It does not produce hallucinations, but is rather an "acute anti-depressant."

MDMA takes effect 20 to 40 minutes after taking a tablet, with little rushes of exhilaration which can be accompanied by nausea. 60 to 90 minutes after taking the drug, the user feels the peak effects.

Sensations are enhanced, music sounds better, and felings of empathy and well-being are common.

The effects of 'real' ecstasy subside after about 3-5 hours.

Users report that the experience is very pleasant and highly controllable. Even at the peak of the effect, people can usually bring themselves down to deal with an important matter.

The effect that makes MDMA different from other drugs is empathy, the sensation of understanding and accepting others.

WHAT IS THE DOSAGE?

E is almost always swallowed as a tablet or capsule. A normal does is around 100mg.

Black market tablets vary widely in strength.

IS ECSTASY ADDICTIVE?

Ecstasy is not physically addictive. However, the drug can often take on great importance in people's lives, and some people do become compulsive in their use of the drug. Taken too often, however, MDMA loses its special effect.

BE CAREFUL!

Ecstasy is illegal and a conviction for possesion can carry long prison sentences.

Frequent or high doses have been linked to neurotoxic damage in laboratory animals. It is still unknown whether such damage occurs in humans or, if it does, whether this has any long term, negative consequences.

Some users experience depression after taking MDMA.

There have been some deaths associated with MDMA. Usually these have been a result of heat stroke from dancing for too long in hot clubs.

Much of what is sold as ecstasy on the black market actually contains other drugs, some of which are potentially dangerous, like DXM or PCP.

Mixing ecstasy with alcohol or other drugs increases the rick of adverse reactions.