Dangerous effects of ecstasy - basic info. (2010)

1. THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF
ECSTASY
By: Josie Casillas
10/ 10/2010
PSY 370

2. WHAT IS ECSTASY?
 Ecstasy is the street name for MDMA.
 MDMA = 3, 4 Methylene-dioxy-N-methyl-amphetamine
The 3,4 indicates the way in which the components of the
molecule are joined together, as it is possible to produce
an isomer which has all the same components but is
joined differently. (Bellis, 2010)
Although it is derived from organic material, MDMA
itself does not occur in nature, and must be created in a
complex laboratory process. (Bellis, 2010)

3. WHAT IS ECSTASY (CONTINUED)…
• It is a mood/mind altering drug and like Prozac works by
effecting the chemical level of Serotonin in our brains, a
'neurotransmitter' that is naturally present in the brain which can alter
our emotions.
Chemically the drug is amphetamine like, but
psychologically it's what's known as an empathogen-
entactogen, empathogenic means the ability to
communicate things to others or the ability to feel empathy
towards others and entactogenic means feeling well or good
with yourself and the world. (Bellis, 2010)

4. WHAT DOES ECSTASY LOOK LIKE?
Usually Ecstasy comes in little easy to swallow
tablets. They vary in shape, size & color and
usually have some sort of logo printed on them.
(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)

5. POPULAR STREET NAMES FOR ECSTASY/
MDMA
X or E
Adam or Stacy
Empathy
Roll
Bean
XTC
Lover’s Speed

6. HISTORY OF ECSTASY
 MDMA [aka. Ecstasy] was patented in 1913 (patent #274.350)
by the German chemical company Merck supposedly to be sold
as a diet pill (the patent does not mention any intended use), the
company decided against marketing the drug and had nothing
more to do with it…
 Urban legend has it that the US army was testing MDMA in
1953 as a possible truth serum, but there is no real evidence
supporting this.
(Narconon, 2010).

7. PROFESSOR X
 Alexander Shulgin [aka “Professor X”] is responsible for
brining MDMA back for modern research; who after graduating
from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in
biochemistry landed a job as a research chemist with Dow
Chemicals.
 “MDMA is but one of 179 psychoactive drugs which he described
in detail, but it is the one which he felt came closest to fulfilling his
ambition of finding the perfect therapeutic drug” (Bellis, 2010)

8. HISTORY AND THE DEA
 In 1985, after receiving massive media attention,
a group of people sued the DEA (US Drug
Enforcement Agency) to try to prevent them
from outlawing the drug by placing it on
Schedule 1. (Bellis, 2010).
 However, later on that same year, congress passed a law to
allow the DEA to put an emergency ban on the drug because
of it’s dangers.
 Some scientists argued that the drug caused brain damage
and therefore should not be used.

9. FDA ISSUES
 Unfortunately in 1993, Trial research into the
effects of MDMA on human volunteers resumed
with the approval of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
 The first psychoactive drug approved for human testing by the
FDA. (Bellis, 2010)
 Since 1993, not much has changed… While the
drug is still illegal on the streets, the FDA still
does regular testing of MDMA in different
regions under a schedule 1 license.

10. WHO USES?
 Ecstasy is popular among middle-class adolescents and
young adults who use the drug for recreation.
 It is also recognized as a popular “dance drug”.
 It is sold by drug dealers at:
 Bars
 Underground Nightclubs
 Raves' (all night parties)

11. WHY DO PEOPLE USE ECSTASY?
Drug Effects last between 4-6 hours.
 Makes people feel:
Happy
Relaxed
Empathetic
Loved
Energetic

12. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Confusion
Depression
Anxiety
Sleeplessness
Craving for the drug
Paranoia
Confident
Hallucinations
Insomnia

13. DANGEROUS PHYSICAL EFFECTS
• Muscle Tension
• Involuntary Teeth Clenching
• Nausea
• Rapid Eye Movement
• Sweating or Chills
• Tremors
• Blurred Vision
• Increases body temperature
• Increases blood pressure
• Increases Heart Rate
• People who have circulatory problems or heart disease
face particular risks because MDMA can increase heart
rate and blood pressure.
(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)

14. LONG TERM EFFECTS
 Brain Damage
 Impairment of the serotonin system and memory
performance
 Depression
 Heart failure
 Kidney failure
 Hyperthermia
 Dehydration
 Hypertension
 (The Good Drugs Guide, 2010)

15. REFERENCE:
 Bellis, M. (2010). The Invention of MDMA or Ecstasy. Retrieved on October 14, 2010 from
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980311.htm
 Narconon. (2010). History of Ecstasy (MDMA). Retrieved on October 7, 2010 from
http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/ecstasy-history.html
 National Drug Intelligence Center. (2006). MDMA (Ecstasy) Fast Facts. Retrieved on
October 14, 2010 from
http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3494/index.htm#look%20like
 The Good Drugs Guide (2010). Ecstasy Effects. Retrieved on October 15, 2010 from
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ecstasy/effects.htm