June 2005

I have heard many conflicting things about the drug “Ecstasy.” What exactly is Ecstasy, and how are youth affected by this drug?

MDMA (more commonly known as “Ecstasy” or “X”) is an illegal psychoactive drug that has effects similar to hallucinogens and stimulants. It is considered a “designer drug” because it is made in a lab—as opposed to a drug such as marijuana which grows naturally. MDMA is usually taken by mouth as a pill, tablet, or capsule. It is most commonly sold in the form of pressed pills in various shapes and colors, usually with images imprinted on them.

Users of MDMA say the drug produces an energizing effect, as well as feelings of peace and happiness and empathy for others. For this reason, it is marketed as a “feel good” drug and is often called the “hug drug” or “love drug.” It can also produce distortions in time and sensory perceptions and suppresses the desire to eat, drink, or sleep, making it popular among those who frequent raves and other all-night party scenes.

Myths and inaccurate information about the effects and long-term consequences of MDMA are widespread among its users, so it is important to get the accurate facts out to youth.

What are the effects of using MDMA?

MDMA has gained a deceptive reputation as a new safe drug among its users. However, there is substantial scientific evidence demonstrating that it is extremely dangerous. In low doses, MDMA can cause the same physical symptoms as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These symptoms include increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. In addition, the stimulant effects of MDMA, which enable users to dance for extended periods, may also lead to dehydration and hypertension. In high doses, users of MDMA face even more dangerous physical risks, including liver, kidney, and heart failure. High doses of MDMA use may also lead to strokes and seizures in some users.

The psychological effects of MDMA include anxiety, panic attacks, confusion, disorientation, depression, delusions, mood swings, lapses in memory, and insomnia. Problems with memory, mood, and concentration can persist for days or even weeks after using the drug. In fact, research shows that chronic users of MDMA perform more poorly than nonusers on certain types of cognitive or memory tasks (NIDA, 2005).

Brain imaging studies have revealed that these psychological symptoms may occur because MDMA affects an important chemical in the brain called serotonin. Among other things, serotonin plays an important role in regulating mood, memory, and intelligence. Research on animals suggests that MDMA use can cause long-term damage to the parts of the brain that use serotonin (NIDA, 2005).

There is no control over the content of MDMA pills, capsules, tablets, which puts users at even greater risk for harm. The ingredients are difficult to obtain, so manufacturers often substitute ingredients, mixing such substances as ephedrine (a stimulant); dextromethorphan (DXM, a cough suppressant that has PCP-like effects at high doses); ketamine (an anesthetic used mostly by veterinarians that also has PCP-like effects); caffeine; cocaine; and methamphetamine (NIDA, 2005) . Also, other, more dangerous drugs chemically similar to MDMA are sometimes sold as ecstasy.

Who is using MDMA?

MDMA first became popular at all-night dance club “raves” and other all-night party scenes. In recent years, however, the use of MDMA has spread to a variety of urban, suburban and rural areas throughout the country, including greater use on college campuses ( NIDA, 2004) . In fact, according to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 10 million people over the age of 12 have tried MDMA at least once ( NIDA, 2004 ).

Ecstasy use among young people appears to rise greatly during the late teen years. Data from the 2003 NSDUH indicate that the rate of MDMA use is significantly greater among 18 to 25 year olds than among 12 to 17 year olds or people aged 26 or older (NSDUH, 2005). In addition, males are more likely to report Ecstasy use than females (NSDUH, 2005).

Are there effective treatments for MDMA abuse?

There are currently no evidence-based treatments designed specifically for MDMA abuse, nor are there pharmacological treatments for dependence on MDMA. The most effective treatments for drug abuse and addiction in general are cognitive behavioral interventions, which involve helping individuals to change their negative or destructive thoughts and behaviors into more positive and appropriate ones. Drug abuse recovery support groups can also be effective in combination with behavioral interventions to support long-term, drug-free recovery (NIDA, 2004) . In addition, antidepressant medications might be helpful in treating the symptoms of depression and anxiety seen in MDMA users (NIDA, 2004) .

References:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2004). MDMA (Ecstacy) Abuse. Research Reports Series. Retrieved July, 2005 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/MDMA/ .

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2005). NIDA InfoFacts: MDMA (Ecstasy) Retrieved July, 2005 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ecstasy.html.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2005). Substance Use among Past Year Ecstasy Users. The NSDUH Report. Retrieved July, 2005 from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/ecstasy/ecstasy.htm.