Author: Alex Thompson

MDMA Wikipedia

While ecstasy was initially used primarily in nightclubs and raves, its use has now spread to a wider range of populations. According to a 2021 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 0.8% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 reported using ecstasy in the previous 12 months. The chemical name for ecstasy is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

When MDMA is taken in tablet or capsule form, a person begins feeling the effects 45 minutes later, on average. The immediate impact of ecstasy begins within about 45 minutes of taking a dose. People typically experience an increased sense of well-being and emotional warmth.

This myth may come from an experiment where researchersaccidentally gave methamphetamine (crystal meth) to laboratory monkeys instead of MDMA. There is a horribly toxic chemical with a four-letter acronym, MPTP, which does cause parkinsonism. There is never a good time to take an illegal substance or misuse it.

Drugs & Supplements

Users may take several tablets at once or in succession over a period of time. Abusers may also use in conjunction with other psychoactive drugs like LSD. As with many other “party drugs”, ecstasy is rarely used alone and it is frequently combined with alcohol and marijuana. Shulgin went on to develop a range of new compounds, with varying effects and risks, including MDMA and PMMA (paramethoxymethamphetamine), many of which ended up as versions of street ecstasy. It was many years after this that MDMA eventually appeared on the streets as a recreational drug. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration granted MDMA breakthrough therapy status due to the preliminary evidence of its efficacy in the treatment of PTSD.

See this article and this article about clinical research into medical uses for MDMA. MAPS aims to make MDMA a prescription treatment for PTSD by 2021. Dr Bronner’s has generously donated, though millions more in funding is needed. See this page for more info on side effects relative to other drugs. MDMA is legally controlled in most of the world under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and other international agreements, although exceptions exist for research and limited medical use.

For the uninitiated or unprepared consumer, this can be confronting or even anxiety-provoking. Soon after, this hug friendly drug made its way out of labs and therapy sessions and onto the streets and dance floors. MDMA is most often available in tablet or capsule form and is usually ingested by mouth or crushed and snorted. Molly was made illegal in the United States in 1985, at which time it was classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule I drug, according to the Controlled Substances Act.

Shulgin’s research

Therapy is typically directed by a substance use clinic or health care provider and involve supportive care and behavioral and group therapy. Also, there is evidence that people who develop a rash that looks like acne after using this drug may be at risk of severe side effects, including liver damage, if they continue to use the drug. MDMA exerts its primary effects in the brain on neurons that use the chemicals serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine to communicate with other neurons. MDMA stimulates the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, from brain neurons producing a high that lasts from 3 to 6 hours, but the length of a high is variable based on the user. The drug’s rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose taken, purity of the MDMA, and the environment in which it is taken. One study found that the use of medical MDMA in autistic adults with social anxiety disorder helped reduce social anxiety symptoms such as perceived social threat, self-criticism, and shame.

1. The tiny pill packed a weighty punch on the clubbing scene, contributing to the creation of an underground rave subculture based on electronic and dance music.
2. The project became notorious for testing psychoactive drugs on unwitting subjects.
3. This status helps expedite the development and review of substances for the treatment of serious conditions.
4. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
5. It is quite easy for drug dealers to mix MDMA powder with any substance that looks like it, so taking MDMA powder does not necessarily mean you are not unknowingly taking other substances mixed with the drug.

Addiction is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as continued use despite harmful consequences. Reports also suggest that people who use ecstasy exhibit such symptoms as well as other markers of addiction including tolerance, drug cravings, and withdrawal. Ecstasy was classified as a Schedule I drug in 1985, which means that the substance has a high potential for abuse and is not approved by law to treat medical conditions. However, in some cases, you may continue to feel the side effects of molly the day after you take it. The symptoms may persist for up to a week or more, especially if MDMA is mixed with other drugs such as marijuana.

What are the effects of MDMA use?

Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support. If you communicate your problems about ecstasy and express the desire for help, you can avoid substance use disorders. This could mean cutting a tablet into quarters and only taking one at a time. As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts.

When it comes to the amount of MDMA in a tablet of ecstasy, you never know how much or how little of the drug there is and how you will react to it. If you do use it, take precautions to avoid any accidents such as an overdose. Tests of confiscated molly show that it’s often mixed with other harmful substances, including methamphetamine or bath salts.

How does MDMA work on the brain?

MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. An earlier version of ecstasy, MDMA became popular as a recreational drug during the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, MDMA became fashionable as a party drug in the nightclub and rave scene and its use grew among college students, “yuppies,” and in the gay community. While there are no specific treatments for ecstasy addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective option. This type of intervention helps change how people think and behave in order to support addiction recovery.

What’s in Ecstasy?

CBT also teaches people coping skills so people can better manage the stress that contributes to substance use. In one study, researchers found that only 60% of samples tested contained any MDMA at all and many were mixed with so-called “fake cocaine,” a substance typically made with synthetic cathinone. In nearly 25% of the samples, the researchers were unable to identify what was actually in the tablets.

The current studies aren’t in agreement as to whether MDMA can cause addiction. However, some people do report forming addictive behaviors around it. When used in a therapeutic setting, MDMA may enhance many aspects of talk therapy. Repeated studies show that MDMA can make it easier for someone to approach therapy with vulnerability and an open mind. It may be able to help those dealing with trauma to feel safe and capable of breaking out of harmful thought patterns. Fentanyl can make drugs it’s mixed with, including MDMA, more dangerous.

Find out How long does MDMA stay in your system in our addiction blog.