Ectasy is an illegal "street" drug commonly associated with the party scene where it is used for its stimulant and psychedelic effects. People high on MDMA experience altered perceptions, a heightened sense of touch, and feel energized. Most users of MDMA are adolescents or young adults.

MDMA is usually presented in tablet form, often with a little picture inscribed into the surface. The 'recommended' dose is either one or two tablets. Depending on the purity of the manufacturing process an ecstasy tablet will contain between 60 and 120mg of MDMA. It is usually taken orally but can also be absorbed rectally. The effect of ecstasy lasts between 3 and 6 hours. Ecstasy users will often take another dose as the effects start to wear off and prolong their high.

MDMA is a member of the amphetamine family of compounds and works by stimulating neurons that use serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It causes a massive release of these chemicals which results in euphoria and thought disturbances. When the effect wears off these chemicals are depleted which results in the negative aftereffects that users suffer. The negative aftereffects can last as long as a week!

In animal studies it has been shown to be toxic to serotoninergic cells. Chronic use of MDMA is thought to cause permanent damage to these cells. This could result in diverse symptoms such as: memory problems, decreased sexual appetite, depression, and attention problems.

Another of the dangers in using ecstasy is that the tablets are very rarely pure. Manufacturers will add cheaper substances to the mix when making the pills in order to make a bigger profit. Such additives are generally not advertised to the person buying the pill.

MDMA was first synthesized at the turn of the 20th century. In the late 20th century certain psychiatrists advocated using it on patients in psychotherapy sessions. However the dangerous side-effects led the drug to be abandoned as a legitimate therapeutic medicine.

The Netherlands and Belgium are identified as two large centers of MDMA production. The manufacturing process is quite sophisticated and requires a certain level of knowledge and competance. Despite this there are a number of 'recipes' on the internet.

Additional Resources

National Institute on Drug Abuse - MDMA/Ecstasy Research: Advances, Challenges, Future Directions