Ecstasy
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What are the street names/slang terms for it?
Adam, Bean, E, Ecstasy, M, Roll, X, XTC
What is it?
MDMA or Ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties.
What does it look like?
Ecstasy comes in a tablet form that is often branded, e.g. Playboy bunnies, Nike swoosh, CK
How is it used?
Taken in pill form,users sometimes take Ecstasy at raves, clubs, and other parties to keep on dancing and for mood enhancement.
The hype:
"It'll be like you’re in love with everyone" and "You'll feel happier than you've ever felt. Ever..."
The reality:
"I had a throbbing head, a sore jaw from clenching it so much, and I felt totally anxious," "You know when someone comes up behind you and scares you so bad you almost cry? I had that kind of panic attack for six hours" and "I felt like I was having a heart attack."
What can happen while you're high?
Short-term effects can include involuntary teeth clenching, a loss of inhibitions, unusual displays of affection, transfixion on sights and sounds, muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, and chills or sweating. After-effects can include sleep problems, anxiety and depression.
Ecstasy can cause severe dehydration, seizures and strokes. It can cause dramatic increases in body temperature and can lead to muscle breakdown, which can cause kidney failure. It can lead to liver and cardiovascular failure, which have been reported in some of the Ecstasy-related fatalities.
What can happen long term?
Repeated use of Ecstasy ultimately may damage the cells that produce serotonin, which has an important role in the regulation of mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory. There already is research suggesting Ecstasy use can disrupt or interfere with memory.
Source:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
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