Ecstasy3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Ecstasy, XTC, E, X, Clarity, Essence, Adam, Decadence, M & M
MDMA is most often available in tablet form and is usually ingested orally. Ecstacy is sometimes snorted or smoked but rarely injected.
The experience is called by users, x-ing, rolling, tripping, wigging. Initially, users will likely experience increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. If any of these are extremely heightened, health concerns arise such as kidney and cardiovascular failure, dehydration, and hyperthermia. Additional effects of use include: confusion, paranoia, faintness, epileptic fit, depression, nausea, muscle tension, chills/sweating,severe anxiety, sleep problems, rapid eye movement, blurred vision and involuntary teeth clenching
MDMA stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin from brain neurons, producing a high that lasts from several minutes to an hour. The drug's rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose and purity, and the environment in which it is taken. MDMA can produce stimulant effects such as an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence and increased energy. Its psychedelic effects include feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, and empathy. Users claim they experience feelings of closeness with others and a desire to touch them. Because MDMA engenders feelings of closeness and trust and has a short duration of action, some clinicians claim that the drug is potentially valuable as a psychotherapeutic agent. However, Federal regulators classify MDMA as a drug with no accepted medical use.
The body experiences these altered states due to the release of the neurotransmitter, serotonin from brain neurons. Serotonin is thought to play a role in regulating mood, memory, sleep, and appetite. Studies suggest that users may be risking permanent brain damage because MDMA harms the neurons that release the serotonin. The chemical structure of MDMA is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are known to cause brain damage. Although there is currently no conclusive evidence regarding the long-term effects of MDMA on the brain, users should be aware of the possibility of permanent damage. Do not mix alcohol with ecstasy. Many serious problems can result including lower energy, unconsciousness, cardiac problems, and even death. Alcohol will dehydrate the body even more, which will increase one's risk for onerheating. MDMA-related fatalities at raves have been reported. The stimulant effects of the drug, which enable the user to dance for extended periods, combined with the hot, crowded conditions usually found at raves can lead to dehydration, hyperthermia and heart or kidney failure.
Mentally, ecstasy makes users feel less inhibited and more emotionally open. They feel they can talk all night about their deepest secrets and want to be physically close and affectionate with everyone. Some users have said it makes you "feel like everyone is your soul mate." Ecstasy users claim they experience feelings of closeness with others and have a desire to touch them. These desires may lead to sexual intercourse. If one chooses to use this drug, make sure to have condoms on hand to help prevent the passing of STDs.
Pacifiers, lollipops, glow stick wands and lots of bottled water may be the signs of an ecstasy user. Users like to suck on something, such as a pacifier or lollipop, to help ease the jaw clenching and teeth grinding that usually accompanies ecstasy use. Users' eyes are more sensitive to lights, so many will wave their glow stick wands for colorful movement when dancing. The bottled water aids in hydration when one overheats due to ecstasy's interference with the body's temperature regulation.
Much of what is sold as ecstasy is not MDMA. Sadly, many sellers are only out to make an extra dollar. The seller may rightly know what is contained in the imposter pill but sell it anyway. Drug labs are able to manufacture pills that resemble ecstasy with the same pill size, color, and logos. What a user buys as ecstasy may actually be PMA, MDA, MDEA, LSD, amphetamines, caffeine, heroin or lactose, among others. One of these drugs, PMA, is similar to ecstasy but gives users a less intense high. Because of this, users may be inclined to take more of the drug believing they received a weak pill. This immediate second dose of PMA could prove to be fatal as a side effect of this drug is an escalating body temperature. This drug has already been blamed for a number of deaths.
