Ecstasy a synthetic psychoactive drug. Chemical name is methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine (MDMA). A hallucinogenic amphetamine.

Ecstasy ^{(methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine)}

A synthetic psychoactive drug. Chemical name is methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine (MDMA). A hallucinogenic amphetamine.

Also called ‘ E ’, ‘doves ’, ‘ XTC ’, ‘disco biscuits ’, ‘echoes ’, ‘hug drug’, ‘ burgers ’, ‘ fantasy ’, ‘ mitsubishis ’, ‘ dolphins ’ , ‘ rolexes ’ ‘pills’, ‘brownies’.
Tablets or capsules of different shapes, sizes and colour, often white, which are swallowed. Sometimes crushed and snorted or smoked
Ecstasy tablets may not contain MDMA. Other drugs, which might be sold as MDMA, can have very different effects.

Class A drug
Penalties for possession: maximum seven years prison and/or fine. Penalties for possession with intent to supply, or supplying: maximum life imprisonment and/or fine.

First created in 1914. Medically used to encourage empathy and diffuse anger and hostility
Ecstasy has been available in significant quantities in the UK since the late 1980s. Became an integral part of the rave and wider youth scene

Alertness, in tune with surroundings, enhanced empathy with others. Sound, colour and emotion seem more intense
Users can dance for hours. Single dose takes effect after 20 - 60 minutes and lasts 3 - 6 hours, followed by a gradual comedown
Users become more talkative. (Not always comprehensible to non-users).
Possible long term Effects: depression, changes in personality and amnesia

Ecstasy tablets are rarely pure. They can contain amphetamines, caffeine And other substances to reduce production costs.
Other drugs are often sold as ecstacy With different effects increasing the risk of overdose.

Possibility of death
There is a risk that tablets sold as Ecstasy (MDMA) may actually be Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) this may increases the risk of overdose as (PMA) has a higher toxicity and longer onset than ecstasy
Days of tiredness and depression
Dry mouth and throat, muscle tension, jaw clenching, loss of appetite, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, chills and sweats, increase in heart and blood pressure, posing a threat to those with circulatory or heart problems. Bodily co-ordination is effected making it unsafe to drive or oporate machinery
Effects are more acute with increased dose/repeated use. Anxiety confusion and panic can occur
There is a risk of over heating and dehydration if users dance energetically without taking breaks or drinking enough fluids. Users should sip about a pint of non-alcoholic fluid every hour to avoid having too little or too much water
In the early 1990s, most deaths seemed due to dehydration and hypothermia but more recently there have been cases of hyponatraemia (abnormally low sodium levels in the blood; salt depletion, ) - dilution of the body fluids leading to coma and sometimes death, as in the case of leah betts. This may occur where users drink large quantities of water in an attempt to counter the effects of the drug
Liver and kidney problems, brain changes and depression in later life have been described as risks of taking Ecstasy.