What Is Ecstasy? Effects, Uses, and Risks

Apart from the small number of people who have reported improvement or resolution of emotional or personality problems after the use of MDMA in psychotherapy, the long-term effects are virtually all adverse ones. They are all thought to arise from a neurotoxic action of the methylenedioxy derivatives of the amphetamines. The reported effects of MDMA vary according to the dose and the frequency and duration of use. In general, the effects desired by most users are those produced by low doses on single occasions. It is, therefore, convenient to describe the effects separately for acute (single-occasion) and chronic (long-term) use and, within each category, to describe separately the mental and the physical effects. A third category of effect, consisting of the serious or fatal toxicity seen at higher doses or in abnormally sensitive individuals, will be described separately.

Effects on the user

You also consent to Asana Recovery contacting you by phone, text message, and email regarding your insurance benefits and treatment services. You acknowledge that text messaging may involve risks, authorize the use of your Protected Health Information (PHI) for these communications, and understand you can opt-out of text messages at any time by replying “STOP”. At Asana, we offer effective, insurance-covered treatment for addiction and mental health, guided by experts who understand because they’ve been there. Pure MDMA is typically a white or off-white powder or crystalline substance, though it may be sold in capsules or pressed pills. There’s no guaranteed way to confirm if molly is pure without laboratory testing. Reagent kits can help detect the presence of MDMA but don’t account for all potential additives.

In 2023, more than 1.5 million adults in this age group used ecstasy compared with about 520,000 adults aged 18 to 25.
At Asana, we offer effective, insurance-covered treatment for addiction and mental health, guided by experts who understand because they’ve been there.
This will stop you from getting dehydrated and possibly fainting or feeling lightheaded.
Other drugs in this chemical group include methamphetamine and cathinone.
There are ongoing clinical studies to test how well this treatment might work.

Where Is MDMA Made?

The same phenomenon occurs with the classical hallucinogens, which have not proven to give rise to dependence to nearly the same extent as alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines or opioids, for example. On the other hand, amphetamine and methamphetamine are at least as liable to produce dependence as cocaine.2,58 It may be that the methylenedioxy group on the phenyl ring in MDA, MDMA and MDEA makes them more like mescaline than like the parent amphetamines in this respect, but prudence suggests that it would be best to reserve judgement on this point. MDMA (an abbreviation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also called “Molly” or “Ecstasy,” is a lab-made (synthetic) drug that has effects similar to stimulants like methamphetamine. It is typically sold illicitly as colorful tablets with imprinted logos, capsules, powder, or liquid.

Some researchers and organizations consider MDMA to be a psychedelic drug because it can also mildly alter visual and time perception. MDMA’s effects may include feeling more energetic and alert and having an increased sense of well-being, warmth, and openness toward others. While not addictive like heroin or cocaine, ecstasy use may lead to dependence. It’s similar to other stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine.

It also causes hallucinogenic effects that can change how you see the world, such as not knowing what time it is or seeing things that are not there. Ecstasy directly affects the levels of neurotransmitters in your brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. On the whole, it is relatively mild, resembling a viral hepatitis, with jaundice, an enlarged tender liver, an increased bleeding tendency, raised liver enzyme levels in the blood and a biopsy picture of acute hepatitis that is not in any sense diagnostic of MDMA toxicity. Spontaneous recovery usually occurs over a period of a few weeks to many months, but in chronic users of MDMA there may be repeated attacks of hepatitis.103,104,107,108,109,110,111,112 Several authors have suggested that in any case of repeated acute hepatitis in a young person, the use of MDMA should be suspected as a possible cause. Andreu and colleagues103 found that in their hospital “ecstasy” was the second most common cause of liver injury in patients under the age of 25 years. Molly is supposed Ecstasy ingredients to be pure MDMA, but it is frequently cut with substances like methamphetamine, caffeine, synthetic cathinones, and other stimulants.

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In addition to the high you get from ecstasy, the drug also causes many unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects that affect your mind and your body.
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As the name implies, MDMA is a derivative of methamphetamine (known by such street names as “speed,” “crystal” and “meth” among others) and its parent compound amphetamine.
If you or someone you love is struggling with ecstasy or molly use, Asana Recovery offers evidence-based treatment designed to address both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction.

For the treatment of PTSD, MDMA can only be prescribed by psychiatrists with specific training and authorisation.300In 1986, MDMA was declared an illegal substance because of its allegedly harmful effects and potential for misuse.301 Any non-authorised sale, use or manufacture is strictly prohibited by law. Permits for research uses on humans must be approved by a recognized ethics committee on human research. These figures indicate that the death rate from heroin is higher, but that the precision of the estimate is much lower for ecstasy, which probably reflects a more heterogeneous user population, with fewer ecstasy users being as risk seeking as some of the heroin users. Both drugs are supposed to contain MDMA, but are often mixed with methamphetamine, amphetamines, or bath salts.

Potentially Dangerous Effects in the Body

The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. MDMA in tablet form is almost always used orally (ingested), but the powdered form could also be snorted, inhaled or injected, although the latter route is rarely observed in the context of recreational ecstasy use. When you begin to feel the effects of ecstasy like changes to the way you see the world around you, a familiar environment can provide you with a sense of security to know where you are.

Ecstasy most commonly comes in pill form but can also be injected and taken in other ways. Liquid Ecstasy is actually GHB, a nervous system depressant—a substance that can also be found in drain cleaner, floor stripper and degreasing solvents. Ecstasy was originally developed by Merck pharmaceutical company in 1912. In its original form, it was known as “MDMA.” It was used in 1953 by the US Army in psychological warfare tests, and then resurfaced in the 1960s as a psychotherapy medication to “lower inhibitions.”1 It wasn’t until the 1970s that MDMA started being used as a party drug. Even pills that look identical can have different ingredients, making every dose a potential risk. While theoretically possible, it is illegal, hazardous, and involves toxic chemicals.

The pills are of different colors and are sometimes marked with cartoon-like images. Mixing Ecstasy with alcohol is extremely dangerous and can be lethal. At Asana Recovery, we understand how curiosity about how molly is made or what MDMA is made from can spiral into regular use or dependency. Our team of addiction specialists is here to guide you through a personalized recovery plan that addresses the root of your substance use. Whether you’ve been using ecstasy, molly, or any MDMA-related substances, it’s never too late to start over. The synthesis of MDMA begins with safrole, a compound extracted from sassafras oil.

In the United Kingdom, MDMA was made illegal in 1977 by a modification order to the existing Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Although MDMA was not named explicitly in this legislation, the order extended the definition of Class A drugs to include various ring-substituted phenethylamines.315316 The drug is therefore illegal to sell, buy, or possess without a licence in the UK. Penalties include a maximum of seven years and/or unlimited fine for possession; life and/or unlimited fine for production or trafficking. The stimulative effects of drugs such as Ecstasy enable the user to dance for long periods, and when combined with the hot, crowded conditions found at raves, can lead to extreme dehydration and heart or kidney failure. By submitting this form, you agree to Asana Recovery’s Privacy Policy.

ECSTASY

This results in mood elevation and increased energy but can also lead to serious physical and psychological side effects. MDMA stands for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a synthetic psychoactive substance that alters mood and perception. Commonly called molly in its crystalline or powdered form, and ecstasy when pressed into pills, this drug is often assumed to be pure MDMA. In reality, what molly is made of can vary widely, especially in unregulated street markets.

The drug is broken down metabolically, mainly in the liver, where an enzyme designated CYP2D6 is chiefly responsible.23 However, several different enzymes are involved in its degradation,24 and some of these appear to be saturated at relatively low concentrations of the drug. Consequently, as the dose is increased and the higher-affinity enzymes are saturated, disproportionately large increases in blood and brain concentrations of the drug occur.25 Therefore, small increases in dosage may carry the risk of large increases in toxicity. In earlier years, the name was applied to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).

Cerebral toxicity

Therefore, trusting street molly as “safe” or “pure” is a significant health risk. Producing MDMA involves substances like hydrochloric acid, aluminum amalgam, and other volatile chemicals. These components make the process not only toxic but also explosive under the wrong conditions.

Adding alcohol or other drugs to the mix adds to the dangers of overdose. Ecstasy — also known as Molly, Adam, and XTC, among many other names — is a synthetic drug, meaning it is made from lab-made chemicals. It increases levels of energy, happiness, and empathetic feelings toward others but also causes negative effects, from muscle cramps to depression to heart failure. Even small doses of ecstasy can harm your mental, physical, or emotional well-being. It has been claimed that dependence is unlikely to become a serious problem, because the decrease in pleasurable or rewarding effects if the drug is used too frequently, and the increase in frequency of unpleasant effects,41,44 would diminish the incentive to use the drug in a manner that could give rise to dependence.

Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people are more likely to have used ecstasy within the last 30 days. Ecstasy is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means you could face jail time if caught in possession of this drug. In-game, it is one of the two “hallucinogens” as referred in the game. Its price is unstable, and can rise in a short amount of time.