Ecstasy/MDMA - What You Need to Know

MDMA is short for methylene-dioxy-methampehtamine, but is more commonly known as ecstasy, for the euphoric feelings it produces. Its street names include, but certainly are not limited to beans, wheels, rolls, Scooby Snacks, and Molly. According to Release, a United Kingdom website informing readers of their rights when it comes to drugs, ecstasy's constituents occur naturally in both nutmeg and sassafras oil.

MDMA is commonly thought of as a hallucinogen, but even though it shares a chemical relationship with the psychedelic drug mescaline, it is actually classified as an amphetamine. In the Encyclopedia Britannica it states that MDMA was originally developed in 1913 to be used as an appetite suppressant, but was never approved for public release. In the 1950s and 60s, it was used by psychiatrists as a therapeutic tool because it increases the production of serotonin and blocks its re-absorption into the brain. It also increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. In 1985, MDMA was made illegal.

Ecstasy is now mostly manufactured in Western Europe. According to the White House Drug Policy, the national wholesale price range for MDMA ranges from five US dollars to seventeen and the national retail price is $10-$60 per tablet. This drug is almost always swallowed and comes in a tablet or capsule form which is usually 100-125 milligrams. Ecstasy comes in many different "brands" such as Motorola, Mitsubishi, Butterflies, Playboy, Eeyor (the sad donkey from Whinny the Pooh), and many more. Just because two pills have the same brand, does not mean that they are the same chemical compound. Pure MDMA is rare; most tablets that are sold on the street contain other drugs such as acid and heroin.

The popularity of ecstasy is growing. Studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse say that 10% of the twelfth graders surveyed said that they had used MDMA in the 12 months prior to the survey. What used to be a drug for young, white "raver kids" can now be found used among all races and ages.