MDMA/ECSTASY

History of ecstasy

•Early 1900s

•Patented in Germany by pharmaceutical company “Merck”

•Studied for use as a diet pill, but not marketed

•1950, U.S. army considered it for chemical warfare agent

•Somewhat dominant until 1970s

•being used by psychotherapists

•1980s Ecstasy became party drug

What is ecstasy Ecstasy is synthetic or man made. It is known by lots of different names.it’s known as XTC, E, Adam, the Love Drug, X. The names often reflect the stamp on the pill. XTC is classified as a stimulant, often with hallucinogenic properties.

But what is it really? Well, it is made in household labs which means that its purity can really vary from lab to lab. No one controls the quality of Ecstasy so you never know what is actually purchased.

According to Cst. Dean Childs when the police do raids they test them. What they found was that 50% of the pills being sold as Ecstasy had no Ecstasy in them whatsoever. The other 50% had up to 8 different drugs mixed together. Most frequently amphetamine or caffeine

How does it work Ecstasy is generally taken orally in the form of a pill so it takes about 15 minutes to reach the brain which is when a user feels its effects.

It takes that long because the pill needs to reach the stomach, go to the liver, into the blood stream, then to the heart and finally to the brain.

The effects of Ecstasy last for about 4 - 6 hours. Initially a user experiences a rush of energy and a feeling of euphoria, or really great happiness, that lasts for about 2 hours. After that, a user experiences a plateau effect for about 2 hours. During the plateau a user will still feel the pleasurable effect but it is less intense and other effects begin to appear (overheating for instance). It is also likely that a user will start to seek the intense high again but the drug is still active in the body and taking more can be dangerous. Taking the drug again during this plateau is known as boosting or stacking.

Short term effects

The short term effects are some of the most rewarding effects of Ecstasy and also explain why so many people continue to use it once they have started. People feel like they understand and connect with others better. There are also reports of feeling a little light headed and we know that the heart rate increases, which many people find exciting.

Short term effects

•More trusting •Increased empathy•Mildly intoxicated •Dry mouth •Increased heart rate•Teeth clenching•Blurred vision•Confusion

Long term effects •Depression•Sleep disruption•Irritability •Paranoia and panic attacks •Lack of coordination•Kidney Failure •Heart attacks

This is especially true if there are other substances in the pill purchased.

Brain changes serotonin

Who uses ecstasy

Who uses ecstasy •2.8 million teens have tried ecstasy

•1 out of every 11 in the nation

•Most common from ages 16-25 years

•Taken in pills or tablets

Random facts

•80% of Ecstasy is made in the Netherlands

•Made for 50 cents a tablet, but costs 10-40$ in U.S.

•150 designs on Ecstasy tablets used to attract teens

•The official name for Ecstasy is methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA

Designs are put onto tablets to make ecstasy look harmless

Statistics •Number of MDMA emergency room visits increased from 10,220 (2004) to 17,865 (2008) 74.8% increase in only 4 years •About 78% of these visits involved MDMA in combination with another drug.• Marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine were the most commonly used drugs in combination with MDMA

Dosing •Typical doses range from 80 to 160 milligrams •When it is taken by mouth, effects begin about 30-45 minutes later • Snorting/injecting produce much quicker onset • Primary effects reach a plateau around an hour after consumption and are typically over after 4-6 hours • Secondary effects may be felt for days •Psychological effects may last indefinitely

Can you die from MDMA

Yes, you can die from MDMA use. MDMA can cause problems with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, particularly when it is used in active, hot settings (like dance parties or concerts).