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AKA: MDMA, 3-4 Methylenedioxy-n-methylamphetamine. Tabs, Pills,
Es, Eccies, E, XTC, Molly,
Logo-imprinted tablets including: apples, doves, killers, Mitsubishis,
Ferraris, crowns, Euros, Bitcoins, Super Marios, VWs and numerous others
Ecstasy was originally the 'street' name for the compound 3-4 Methylenedioxy-n-methylamphetamine
(MDMA).
DRUG CATEGORY: MDMA is a stimulant and hallucinogen. Because of its
capacity for creating a sense of empathy and closeness to others it is referred
to by some as an empathogen.
MDMA is part of a large group of drugs - the Phenylethylamines (which relates
to their core molecular structure). Related products include MDA, MDEA,
MDBD, and DOM. Several hundred phenylethylamines have been synthesised,
but not all share the effects of MDMA.
SOURCE: Ecstasy is derived from naturally-occurring chemicals found
in trees Sassafras Albidum, or Ocotea Pretiosa.
The processes involved are well documented, not least by the late Alexander
Shulgin and reached a wider audience in part thanks to his book Pikhal.
They are beyond the means of most amateur chemists, requiring both equipment
and chemicals that are expensive or subject to licence. UK-bought MDMA is
produced both in the UK and mainland Europe, in illegal laboratories.
APPEARANCE: Pure MDMA comes as a white crystalline powder. However,
due to the number of different labs and different processes that produce
MDMA, appearance is very varied and the product sold in the UK is as likely
to be tan/amber coloured. MDMA powder is compressed in to tablets, which
may come in a wide variety of colours and shapes, and with a wide range
of logos.
Imprinted tablets often end up being refrred to by the logo on them, so
people would refer to Doves, Smiley, Mitsubishis and so on. This sort of
branding, initially designed to gain a brand a market share
is no guide to quality. Once a brand is established as being better
quality, other producers copy the design, but may not copy the content.
MDMA is also supplied as a powder, typically in bags small bags. Capsules
are less common now come but did come in a range of colours.
COSTS: Ecstasy was initially a relatively expensive drug in the UK,
selling for between £10-20 per tablet. Cost (and quality) dropped
massively, with tablets selling for £1-2 or less.
MDMA powder, considered to be a better quality product has been more expensive,
selling at between £30-50/gm. However with concern that MDMA powder
is being adulterated with other white powder stimulants, the price of MDMA
powder has dropped in some areas.Over the past few years there has been
a re-emergence of stronger, higher-price pills, selling at around £10
a pil.
QUALITY: The quality of all drugs is variable and nowhere is this
more true than with MDMA. Users were always at risk of buying low quality
tablets. However, as cost dropped, so did quality and some pills sold contain
little or no MDMA.
Some will contain other psychoactive substances there is a chance that any
old tablet finds its way onto the streets - headache tablets, other medications,
veterinary supplies, old capsules filled with any white powder. There are
plenty of tales of things like worming tablet being sold
partly based on the reality that tablets containing piperazines (an E-like
stimulant) were originally used as cattle worming tablets.
Even if the tablet or capsule contains a genuine illegal, psychoactive drug,
it may not be MDMA. As the drugs market becomes swamped with newer psychoactive
compounds, so products sold as Ecstasy could contain other drugs.
These could be an MDMA-related compound, such as MDEA or MDA.
Recently, tablets have been found to contain the chemical PMA or PMAA. Although
in the same general family as MDMA, PMA is considerably more dangerous,
with a slow onset, high risk of overdosing and a significant impact on body
temperature. It has caused a number of fatalities in recent years.
Other tablets have been found to contain emergent drugs like mephedrone,
ketamine, butylone, amphetamine and a host of other compounds.
It should be stressed that tablets containing pure MDMA can still be risky.
Some tablets contain very high doses of MDMA, and so fatalities could be
due to strong tablets as much as contaminated ones.
For a long time, people who were wary of the pill market would seek out
MDMA powder as being better quality. While there is still undoubtedly good
quality MDMA powder on the market, there is also a lot of highly contaminated
MDMA, bulked out with other white-powder drugs.
QUALITY CONTROL: The UK doesnt currently have any routine MDMA
testing processes in place in club settings. In lieu of such a harm-reduction
intervention, there are a number of DIY alternatives.
The website Pill Report (www.pillreports.com) has become increasingly reliable
as an international database of pill-feedback. It is primarily user-generated
and includes bulletins from agencies where relevant. It is international
so people should ensure that they are looking at recent, local reports to
ensure that they are relevant.
Testing kits are available, and while they are able to identify the presence
of MDMA they cannot reliably indicate the presence of potentially dangerous
contaminants.
MDMA can have a distinctive vanilla-esque smell and very bitter taste. However
both the smell and taste can be faked.
DOSE RANGE: Given that most people will be buying impure powder or
tablets of unknown strength, it is difficult for people to assess and regulate
their intake.
A fairly typical dose range would be from 75-150mg of MDMA. Doses over 175mg
would be considered a heavy dose increasing the risks of toxic reaction.
125mg would be a fairly typical tablet dose.
If buying MDMA powder at 80% purity, a dose of 150mg would equal 120mg of
pure MDMA. 150mg is the equivalent of about five grains of rice.
METHODS OF USE: MDMA tablets are usually swallowed. MDMA powder is
often snorted, or wrapped in a cigarette paper and swallowed. Pills and
powders have also been used rectally. Injecting is rare.
MECHANISM of ACTION: MDMA increases levels of serotonin, dopamine
and nor-adrenalin. Use results in increased release of stored chemicals
and inhibits their reuptake. MDMA is also probably a serotonin agonist (mimic).
Compared to a drug like amphetamine, MDMA has less dopaminergic action and
more serotoninergic action, so is less rewarding and possibly therefore
less habituating.
EFFECTS: MDMA starts working approximately half-an-hour after it
has been swallowed. Users may initially experience a warm glow spreading
rapidly through the body, and experience some slight dizziness, disorientation,
breathlessness and exhilaration. Nausea may be present.
For the next 3 to 5hours, or possibly slightly longer, the user may experience
some of the following:
sense of wellbeing and contentment, intense happiness, increase in pulse-rate,
feeling warm or flushed, feeling restless, anxiety and paranoia, feeling
increasingly friendly to other people, and a sense that this friendliness
is reciprocated, tightness and clenching of the jaw muscles, dilated pupils,
an increase in energy, suppression of the appetite and no desire to sleep,
enhanced appreciation of visual and auditory stimulation, some mild visual
distortion, a decreased desire to urinate, feeling sexually aroused, increased
tactility.
Of course, any individuals experience of MDMA depends on the strength
and quality of the drug, and the users mood and environment. In some
settings, such as when MDMA is used to explore self-awareness, the restlessness
and anxiety is less pronounced. The cumulative effect of MDMA, especially
when seen in the context of club drugs, is of increased appreciation of
music and light shows, the energy to dance all night, and a sense of unity
and friendship with other clubbers.
INDICATORS of USE: During use, key indicators include significantly
dilated pupils, increased perspiration, clenching and grinding of the jaws,
jerky, erratic movements, tactility, altered perceptions.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Much has been made of the health risks attached
to MDMA especially of Ecstasy-related deaths. While much research is still
on going, the following health risks are apparent:
-Toxic or allergic reactions to MDMA itself; some people are sensitive or
allergic to the drug; such sensitivity can result in illness or death.
-Overdose from high-strength MDMA, or taking a large amount of it
-A toxic or allergic reaction to substances that have been sold in place
of MDMA; this includes reactions to similar substances (e.g. PMA) but also
to other substances such as penicillin or other substances.
-Injury or fatality caused by the effects of MDMA; examples include people
with heart conditions who have heart-attacks as a result of taking use.
-Heat-stroke: a risk especially when MDMA is taken in a hot night-club,
especially if the user is dancing a lot. Heatstroke can cause death as internal
organs cease working.
-Water intoxication; in an attempt to reduce the risks of heat-stroke, a
user may drink lots of water. The combination of drinking too much water
and restricted kidney function due to MDMA can cause levels of fluid within
the brain to increase, leading to unconsciousness, coma, and possible death.
-The triggering of other conditions: Ecstasy has been linked to a number
of conditions which may have previously been latent, and triggered by taking
MDMA. Evidence is strong, for example, that Ecstasy can trigger Epilepsy
in some individuals.
-Long-term psychiatric damage: some users have experienced long-term depression
after using MDMA; this is more common in regular users. There is some evidence
that ecstasy use, especially long-term use, adversely affects neurotransmitter
transmission systems in the brain.
-Long-term damage to internal organs has not been discounted; organs considered,
by some, to be at risk include the liver, the kidneys, the heart and the
brain.
REDUCING HARM: For people determined to take MDMA, there are a number
of things that can be done to reduce but not remove risks.
The following harm reduction information is not intended to promote use
and cannot ensure safety.
Before: Research local warnings about pills; look on www.pillreports.com
-Ensure that you are in good physical and mental health before use; use
for people with pre-existing health problems is especially risky;
-Use should not take place on top of other substances (including alcohol)
and can be especially risky on top of some anti-depressants
-Use should take place in an environment where you feel safe, with a sober
person, who you trust, and who will seek help if you need it;
Dose: as you cannot be sure about the strength or quality of what
you are taking, use ¼ to ½ a tablet to start with, or 1/10th
gram or less of powder. Allow up to two hours for the drug to work. Even
if nothing happens after two hours, dont use any more; the drug may
be having an undetectable effect of which you are unaware.
If you like the effects and want to use more, use a smaller second dose,
and dont keep redosing all evening.
During:
-Keep cool: take time out from dancing in club settings and get in to a
cool environment to lose heat; remove scarves or hats to help cool down.
-Use cool water on face and neck to help cool down
-Stay hydrated sipping around a pint of water per hour. Dont
use caffeinated energy drinks as they can increase heart problems and dehydration.
- The safest option would be to drink sports rehydration drinks as they
will help replace lost minerals along with fluids;
-Dont panic if you cant pee it doesnt mean you
are dehydrated: MDMA affects kidney function and reduces urine output.
-Dont drink too much water as this can be dangerous
-MDMA can make users feel sexually aroused; ensure you are around friends
who you trust and ensure you have condoms with you in case things go further
-Jaw clenching can damage teeth use gum to help protect you from
grinding
After: Lots of people report a seriously dip in mood after using
MDMA the dreaded mid-week blues. At this point people
may have low levels of serotonin which can leave the person feeling sad,
weepy, depressed and experiencing poor quality sleep.
The temptation is for people to escape this low mood through use of other
drugs (like cannabis or tranquillisers) or use of stimulants to lift mood.
Use of any drugs is liable to worsen mental wellbeing.
Healthy diet, including bananas, dairy, poultry, nuts and pulses can help
the brains levels of serotonin get back to normal. Some people advocate
the use of supplements such as 5-HTP. Natural sleep and moderate exercise
can help.
If low mood persists, seek help.
Have a good long break (three or more weeks minimum) before use of more
MDMA. Allow yourself to fully recover.
EMERGENCIES:
Panic attacks: if you feel or someone you are looking after start
getting panicky (heart racing, breathing getting very fast, feeling very
anxious) the following might help:
Sit down with your back against something solid (wall, fence);
Bring knees up and have head between knees;
Take deep regular breaths in through the nose and breath out through
the mouth;
If you are helping a person who is panicking, provide reassurance,
by talking calmly and ensuring that they arent being hassled by lots
of people;
If the symptoms get worse or there are persisting chest pains seek
medical help urgently.
Convulsions: MDMA and related compounds can cause convulsions. If
you are with someone having a convulsion:
Dont try to restrain them or put anything in their mouth
Do move furniture or other hazards out of the way so the person wont
hit them
Do place a pillow, cushion or folded jacket under the persons
head cushion it
Always send someone to get help
Overheating: MDMA-type drugs can cause a dangerous increase in body
temperature. This can be fatal. Signs of overheating arent always
easy to spot but can include:
Feeling very hot Stopping sweating
Cramps in legs and arms Headaches
Feeling anxious or panicky
Dealing with overheating:
Its a medical emergency: dial 999 or get on-site medics to help;
Keep the person cool;
Get them in to fresh air. (At a festival this includes taking them
out of sleeping bag or tent);
Remove any heavy outer clothes;
Spray them with cool water;
If they are shaking or convulsing dont restrain them as this
will make them hotter;
Dont try and make them drink anything at this stage it
could make things worse;
Tell the emergency services the person may have taken an MDMA-type
drug.
LEGAL STATUS: Ecstasy is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug, and currently
has no medical or therapeutic use in the UK.
TRENDS: MDMA was initially popular in the US Gay club scene, in the
early '80s came back to the UK and whilst initially primarily popular in
the UK Gay music scene, rapidly spread to other club-goers, fusing with
the emergent Acid House scene. It rapidly increased in popularity across
many music scenes, including the raves and free parties, the Manchester
clubs and then on in to other cultural settings.
Some commentators dubbed 1988 the Second Summer of Love, and
for the next two or three years Ecstasy maintained high levels of popularity.
Things started to change around the time of the Castlemorton Free Festival
(1992) and went in to decline as legislation and enforcement impacted both
on the rave/festival scene and the supply of MDMA.
The golden-age of Ecstasy seemed to be on the wane, as some users, concerned
about over-priced drugs of disputable quality turned to other products instead.
However, although not born out by the trend data, MDMA seems to be enjoying
something of a renaissance. Whilst nowhere near the scale in the late 80s,
there is an increase in higher quality MDMA and some increase in use.
OTHER INFORMATION: Ecstasy is often described as a new drug, but
it was first produced as long ago as the 1930s. Having been used as an appetite
suppressant, and a military brainwashing drug, Ecstasy experienced a renaissance
in the sixties and seventies as a tool for psychotherapy, and then made
the jump into the club scene. It was only made illegal in the USA in 1985,
though had been illegal in the UK far longer.
Drug Facts: