Ecstasy (MDMA: 3,4 methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine)

Street Names: Ecstasy is known on the streets as: Ecstasy, XTC, E, Clairty, X, Adam, Essence, Serenity, Tranquility, Peace, and the love drug in its various forms.

Description: Ecstasy is most commonly seen in the form of a pill, tablet or capsule. The drug is a cross between an amphetamine and a hallucinogen (mescaline), though the ingredients differ among manufacturerers. Esctasy pills come in a wide variety of colors and are marked with an equally wide variety of inscriptions from words and numbers to symbols.

Use: Ecstasy is taken orally, its effects lasting from four to six hours. Ecstasy is a stimulant, unleashing energy as well as surreal visual distortions. Users commonly report extremely good feelings, shared emotions with other users, extreme relaxation and a reduced level of anxiety. Ecstasy suppresses the appetite and feelings of fatigue, enabling users to endure all night to three-day long parties. Often, users become so revved up on the drug, they mix a variety of different drugs, putting themselves in even higher risk to adverse long-term effects.

Effects: Ecstasy abuse causes irreversible long-term damage to the parts of the brain controlling thought and memory. In addition to brain damage, ecstasy abuse decreases the body’s ability to control temperature causing heat stroke and death to users. Other effects include: elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, blurred vision, fainting, chills, sweating, muscle tension, jaw clenching, dry mouth, eye wiggle, teeth grinding, disorientation, panic, anxiety, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, muscle cramping, nausea, tremors, and seizures. Users commonly drink excessive amounts of liquids and suck on objects such as pacifiers or candy to ease the jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

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For more information on Ecstasy and other drugs, visit: http://www.streetdrugs.org