The History of Ecstasy

In 1912 the German pharmaceutical company Merck first synthesized and patented a compound called 3,4-methylenedioxymetham-phetamine, or MDMA for short. At the time, many new chemicals were synthesized in the hopes that they might be usefiil in future research. MDMA, as an amphetamine-derivative, had potential as a diet drug. However, like many other compounds, research on MDMA was soon abandoned by Merck. Many pharmaceutical companies at that time applied for and received patents on everything they synthesized, just in case the compound was ever found to be useful or in case they ever decided to do more research on the compound. Many of these chemical products, like MDMA, did not show enough promise to be investigated further, and thus research was abandoned. 

More than 50 years later, an American scientist named Alexander Shulgin resynthesized the compound and began experimenting with it. Shulgin believed that MDMA would be useful medically, perhaps 

Rave culture and Ecstasy use have built on each other in creating a public health epidemic. It is impossible to accurately 

As Hannah and her friend made their way further inside, Amanda stopped to talk to some guy, leaving Hannah alone. Did she know that guy It wasn t somebody from school. Hannah decided just to hang out and wait for Amanda before going out on the floor to dance. This didn t seem like the kind of place where she wanted to dance with a bunch of strangers. 

A couple minutes later, Amanda and the guy walked over to Hannah to join her. Amanda was acting weird, detached. The guy nodded his head at Hannah, gave her a siick smirk, and pulled a little plastic bag out of his pocket. Little white pills. Who is this guy and what are those , she thought. And what s up with Amanda The guy asked her if she wanted one of the pills, told her that her friend said she might be interested in having a good time, too. Amanda smiled and nodded, as if to say that the guy was cool and Hannah should definitely take him up on his offer. 

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Cloud, John. The Lure of Ecstasy. Time, June 5,2000, pp. 62-68. Describes the background on ecstasy (MDMA), a drug that was actually developed about 80 years ago and today is widely used in clubs and raves. The history of psychiatric use of the drug is also recounted, and advocates for therapeutic use of the drug are again being heard. The author concludes that the... 

Although there are federal guidelines for sentencing of drug possession, the penalties imposed are a bit more subjective. There is a particular offense level based on the amount of ecstasy or number of pills in possession, and a penalty associated with that offense level. The penalty for first offense possession of a small (personal) amount of ecstasy is a maximum of one year in prison and a fine. Someone with one prior conviction is subject to a term of 15 days to two years in prison, and two or more prior convictions to a term of 90 days to three years, both with increasing fines. Along with the base offense level, courts also take into account the offender s history of drug offenses, whether another crime was committed, and circumstances at the time of the arrest. 

Holland, J. (2001). The history of MDMA. In J. Holland (Ed.), Ecstasy The complete uide. Rochester, VT Park Street Press. 

Ketamine is often taken with other drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and Ecstasy, which greatly increases the risk for overdose. Ketamine tends to be taken by people with a history of experimenting with numerous other drugs. Ketamine is also occasionally taken by physicians and veterinarians, who have easy access to the drug and want to experiment with its psychedelic effects. 

A 38-year-old man developed Parkinsonism that progressed to Hoehn and Yahr stage 5 within 4 years of onset (44). Treatment with ropinirole resulted in further deterioration, levodopa was not tolerated, and subthalamic nucleus stimulation provided only partial relief. The patient reluctantly reported heavy use of ecstasy through most of his twenties and thirties. He had a family history of Parkinsonism, but other investigations to determine the underlying cause, such as urine copper and heavy metals, were non-contributory. 

An 18-year-old woman took an unknown quantity of ecstasy and the next day became confused and had seizures, loss of consciousness, and respiratory arrest. At autopsy, no cause of death was found. There were no specific findings on histology except visceral hyperemia. MDMA, moclobemide, and some alcohol were found in the blood. There was no history of mental illness or evidence of prescription drugs. 

A 19-year-old man with no significant past history of medical problems took PA tablets of ecstasy and some alcohol. Within 2-4 days, he developed tiredness, nausea, malaise, and vomiting and on the fifth day weakness and anorexia 12 days later, he was admitted... 

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