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Ecstasy Information
MDMA is most popular among “club kids” or “ravers”,
although others at rock concerts and with friends are also using
it as yet another escape from the rigors of adolescence and early
adulthood. MDMA is taken orally in tablets or capsules. The effects
last approximately four to six hours, although it has been reported
to last in some users up to twelve.
History
MDMA, although fairly new in the underground of the
American Drug Culture, has been known in the pharmaceutical community
since it’s inception in 1912 by a German Company that developed
the drug as a possible appetite suppressant. MDMA’s appearance
on the streets of America was precursored in the 1960’s by MDA,
which MDMA is an analogue of. In the 1970’s though MDMA began
its debut as a possible aide in psychotherapy by a small number of
therapists. As it was found to have little benefit in these circles
in accord to it’s largely unknown and unpredictable side effects
it was thrown out as an adjunct to psychotherapy and by the 1980’s
had begun to circuit the illicit drug trade.
Pharmacology
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Serotonin Levels In The Brain
Before and After Use of X.
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MDMA (3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a Schedule
I synthetic, psychoactive drug possessing stimulant and hallucinogenic
properties. MDMA possesses chemical variations of the stimulant amphetamine
or methamphetamine and a hallucinogen, most often mescaline.
Effects
Ecstacy is said to produce empathy, decreased
anxiety, relaxation and heightened senses. MDMA also suppresses appetite,
thirst and the need to sleep. Because of this in combination with
dancing and increased activity can cause severe dehydration and exhaustion.
Adverse effects may include nausea, cold sweats, chills, hallucinations,
increased body temperature, teeth clenching, tremors, double
vision and muscle cramps. Long term after-effects of MDMA include
anxiety, paranoia and depression. This is most likely attributed
to the decreased serotonin levels found in the brain for up to three
weeks after their last dose. The National Institute of Mental Health
conducted a study in 1998 to support this. It was found that the
use of MDMA severely damaged the neurons in the brain that transmit
seratonin. Serotonin is the chemical that is used in learning, sleep,
and integration of emotion. The study concluded that even recreational
users of the drug might be at risk of developing permanent damage
that can manifest depression, anxiety, memory loss, and neuropsychotic
disorders.
In addition to these troubling facts,
recent research is pointing to the real cause of the long term effects
of MDMA. The
drug acts primarily on the seoatonin receptor sites in the brain,
enabling them to take in large quantities of serotonin. It also enables
them to take in other chemicals in the brain. Namely, it takes in
dopamine and as the serotonin receptor sites attempt to break the
dopamine down, it produces hydrogen peroxide. Many researches
believe is the cause of long term damage to serotonin receptors.
Statistics
While MDMA abuse currently is not as widespread as
that of many other drugs, it nonetheless increased significantly--500
percent--over a five-year period. Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)
estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions
for MDMA rose dramatically from 70 in 1993 to 2,850 in 1999. Seizures
of MDMA have also increased drastically. Over a six-year period,
seizures of MDMA tablets submitted to DEA laboratories have risen
from a total of 196 in 1993 to 143,600 in 1998. Seizures from January
through May 1999 total over 216,300 MDMA tablets; the 1999 figure
will most likely double the 1998 figure.
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