Ecstasy
MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Street names for MDMA include Ecstasy, Adam, XTC, hug, beans, and love drug. It is estimated that in the United States in 2003, about 470,000 people over 12 years used MDMA in the 30 days prior to the date they were surveyed, a significant decrease compared to 2002.
Research in animals indicates that MDMA is neurotoxic; whether it is or not in humans is currently an area of ??intense research. MDMA can also be dangerous to health and, in rare instances, can be fatal.
MDMA exerts its primary effects on neurons in the brain that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. The serotonin system plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain.
Health Hazards
Cognitive Effects
Chronic users of MDMA perform more poorly under which nonusers on certain types of tasks that involve cognitive or memory. Some of these effects may be due, among other factors, the use of other drugs in combination with MDMA.
Physical Effects
In high doses, MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. This can lead to a dramatic increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in liver, kidney and cardiovascular system.
Because MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (ie, digestion in the body), you can reach potentially harmful levels of the drug if it is used repeatedly over short time intervals.
Users of MDMA face many of the same risks as users of other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, which is especially risky for people with circulatory problems or heart disease and other symptoms including muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating.
Psychological Effects
These can include confusion, depression, sleep problems, craving for the drug, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur when taking MDMA and sometimes days or weeks later.
Neurotoxicity
Research in animals links MDMA exposure to long-term damage to neurons involved in mood, thought and trial. A study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to MDMA for only 4 days caused damage to serotonin nerve terminals that was evident 6 to 7 years later. Although not able to show similar neurotoxicity in humans, the wealth of animal research showing the damaging properties suggests that MDMA is not a safe drug for human consumption.
Hidden Risk: Drug Purity
Sometimes sold as “ecstasy” Other drugs chemically similar to MDMA, such as MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine, the parent drug of MDMA) and PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine, associated with fatalities in the United States and Australia). These drugs can be neurotoxic or create additional health risks of MDMA users. Also, ecstasy tablets may contain other substances in addition to MDMA, such as ephedrine (a stimulant), dextromethorphan (DXM, a cough suppressant that has PCP-like effects at high doses), ketamine ( an anesthetic used mostly by veterinarians that also has PCP-like effects), caffeine, cocaine, and methamphetamine. While the combination of MDMA with one or more of these drugs is inherently dangerous, there is the possibility that users might also combine with other substances such as marijuana and alcohol, increasing their risk even more physical.
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