MDMA - Ecstasy

Drug Classification: Club Drug, Amphetamine
 
Slang Terms: Ecstasy, XTC, X, Adam, Clarity, Lover's Speed
 
What It Looks Like & How it’s Taken: MDMA is taken orally, usually in a tablet or a capsule.

Ecstasy

Effects: MDMA's effects last approximately 3 to 6 hours. MDMA can produce a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure and a sense of alertness like that associated with amphetamine use. Makes users feel euphoric and “happy”. Use of MDMA is directly associated with dehydration, hypertension, and heart or kidney failure.
 
After/Side Effects: Confusion, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, and paranoia have been reported to occur even weeks after the drug is taken. The “hangover” is usually very intense and users report feeling more depressed than before tanking MDMA.
 
Paraphernalia Associated With Use: Including, but not limited to, painters masks, Vicks Vapo-rub, Vitamin bottles (to store drugs), Ambisol, soothers/pacifiers, glow sticks, suckers/lollypops.
 
Long Term Consequences Of Use: Long term damage to parts of the brain critical to thought and memory after a single “hit” of MDMA have been identified. Side effects may be enhanced by the use of prescription SSRI’s (anti-depressants). Causes long lasting decrease in production of serotonin, this causes a change in brain function, personality and mood.

Display of brain - normal and on exstasy

Facts & Statistics:
 MDMA can be extremely dangerous in high doses. It can cause a marked increase in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia) leading to the muscle breakdown and kidney and cardiovascular system failure reported in some fatal cases at raves. MDMA use may also lead to heart attacks, strokes, and seizures in some users.
 
Sources:
 http://165.112.78.61/ClubAlert/ClubdrugAlert.html - National Institute On Drug Abuse
 
 http://www.clubdrugs.org
 
 http://www.dancesafe.org