Ecstasy/MDMA Information
MDMA is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant
and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time
and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. Typically, MDMA
(an acronym for its chemical name 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is taken
orally, usually in a tablet or capsule, and its effects last approximately 3 to
6 hours. The average reported dose is one to two tablets, with each tablet
typically containing between 60 and 120 milligrams of MDMA.
Part of the danger and lure of ecstasy to young people is that it appears to be safer than other drugs. The euphoric effects initially produced are deceiving, as once the drug wears off, users report sinking into deep depression and develop an apathetic outlook on life. This is truly one of the most devastating drugs to hit young people because the negative effects can last much longer than the initial hight, forcing users to seek some other type of chemical relief, if not from the same drug again.
Although MDMA is known universally among users as ecstasy, researchers have determined that many ecstasy tablets contain not only MDMA but also a number of other drugs or drug combinations that can be harmful as well. Adulterants found in MDMA tablets purchased on the street include methamphetamine, caffeine, the over-the-counter cough suppressant dextromethorphan, the diet drug ephedrine, and cocaine. Also, as with many other drugs of abuse, MDMA is rarely used alone. It is not uncommon for users to mix MDMA with other substances, such as alcohol and marijuana.
More than 11 million persons aged 12 or older reported using ecstasy at least once in their lifetimes, according to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The number of current (use in past month) users in 2004 was estimated to be 450,000.
The Drug Abuse Warning Network, maintained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reported that mentions of MDMA in drug abuse-related cases in hospital emergency departments were 2,221 for the third and fourth quarters of 2003. The majority of patients who came to emergency departments mentioning MDMA as a factor in their admissions during that time were aged 18–20. There is, however, some encouraging news from NIDA’s Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, an annual survey used to track drug abuse trends among adolescents in middle and high schools across the country. Between 2001 and 2005, annual ecstasy use decreased by 52 percent in 8th-graders, 58 percent in 10th-graders, and 67 percent in 12th-graders. Rates of lifetime MDMA use decreased significantly from 2004 to 2005 among 12th graders.
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