ECSTASY

Clinical Name: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine  (MDMA)

Nicknames: X, E, ETC, Adam, Eve

History: 1912 - Studied as a diet pill
              1980s- Used in experiments with patients in psychotherapy
                          Studies in animals showed possible brain damage from use
              1985 -   Registered as a Schedule I  drug of the Controlled Substances Act
                          Thus showing NO THERAPEUTIC USE
              1990s- Brain damage and memory/learning deficits confirmed in human abusers

Category: Stimulant and Hallucinogen

Biological Effects:

                Increased Heart Rate                         Can reach 220
                Increased Blood Pressure                  Can reach 220/130
                Dilates Pupils and Bronchi
                Increases motor activity
                Tightens muscles
                Causes bruxism (grinding of the teeth)
                Increased Body Temperature              Can reach 117 degrees (Normal is 98.6)
                                                                           This temperature was taken after the death
                                                                           of the Ecstasy user
                Increases the desire to touch and to be touched

After Effects:

                Muscle Aches
                Drowsiness/General Fatigue
                Depression
                Paranoia
                Difficulty in Concentrating
                Anxiety and Irritability
                Acne/Skin Rash
                Headaches
                Stomach Cramps
                **There is an increased intensity of these reported with continual use

 Description:

                Small, usually round,  light-colored, off-white  pill, stamped with a design, logo, or
                character. Similar in size to an aspirin

 Other Information:

                Ecstasy users think only of the increased sensuousness of the touching and the peaceful, euphoric feeling they say it offers.  Little, if any, attention is given to the risk of permanent brain damage after a single dose or the risk of death by taking multiple doses or by mixing substances.

                 Currently,  many users take Ecstasy in excess and then use another drug to minimize the undesirable effects

                 Combining Ecstasy with alcohol increases risk of death exponentially

                 Use of Ecstasy has been shown not to escalate violence, like fighting, among users, however, sexual predators are able to take advantage of  the users desire to be touched

 As a parent, friend, or loved one as an Ecstasy user, here are some of the things you can do to help.

 Look for the symptoms listed above