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classificaiotn of drugs >>> phenalkilamines >>>

Phenalkilamines

Ecstasy – MDA, MDMA and MDEA

History and usage

The MDMA was synthesized in 1913 in the “Megsk” firm. There is some data that it was used as an anorexigen, but because of its psychological effects, opposing the German mentality, they rejected it. There is some information, although unverified, that during the 50’s it was used in the army and in the police in the USA as the “drug of truth”. MDMA was absolutely forbidden when doctor Schulgin accidentally came across it. In 1977 he tested it on himself, and decided to show it to his friend, who was also a doctor-psychiatrist, who was going to retire in a few months. In the next morning the doctor called his friend back on the phone to tell him he will give up his retirement. The next 10 years the enthusiastic doctor spent in travelling around the USA, getting his colleagues acquainted with the new substance and help them use it in their work. About 4000 psychiatrists started using MDMA; one of them said: “MDMA acts as a penicillin for the soul and nobody can prescribe it until he has seen what it can do.” The doctors were absolutely aware of the fact that if the new substance is “unleashed” on the streets it will be immediately banned, the same way LSD was forbidden. That’s why they didn’t talk about it a lot and for a short period of time this tactic had some success.

While in the USA Ecstasy is used frequently in the house or in the open, in Europe it’s more famous as a “dance drug”. Ecstasy is usually used by people who attend large clubs, who under its influence are able to dance all night long. Some say, ironically though, that Ecstasy is the only thing that can make so many people gather in one place without getting into a fight. The main part of the European Ecstasy is produced in the Netherlands, where the laws are not so tight and it is even more popular in other countries such as Great Britain. Two years ago it was even used by the football fans, the result of which was less fighting on the stadiums. Ecstasy has even penetrated in the quiet English provinces and in the traditional local pubs, where instead of drinking a mug of beer people drink a glass of orange juice with a pill of Ecstasy. It is estimated that 1,5-3 million people in England use it; their number is considerably smaller even in countries with long traditions such as the USA.

Young people, who love to dance all night long, sometimes take Ecstasy together with amphetamines, which gives them more energy and tenacity. The fans of hallucinogens use it as an introduction - first the take Ecstasy and after it has fully shown its effect they take a hallucinogen. Some say that the probability the user to experience a “bad trip” is almost zero and practically this is true as far as the effect of the pure MDMA is concerned. Ecstasy is very often used together with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine etc, but most of these combinations may only increase its toxic consequences. Lately there is some information that the usage of Ecstasy together with some modern antidepressants (for example fluoksetine) may considerably decrease its negative influence over the body. The Ecstasy that is sold on the streets (E, X, XTC, MDM, M&M, Adam, yuppie drug) very often contains no MDMA; best case scenario is that it is MDA (MDM, MDE, love pill) or its ethyl derivative MDEA (Eve). The connoisseurs say they can differentiate their effects, but most of the others, who use them can’t; anyway, MDMA is considered to be the most pleasant one. The necessary doses of all the three substances are about 50-150 mg, and the effect lasts for a couple of hours. MDA is more like an amphetamine or a hallucinogen and MDEA is “softer”. Very frequently amphetamine is sold instead of real Ecstasy; it can be replaced also by LSD in small doses or by a combination of the already mentioned substances. The “street product”, even when it contains MDMA is not quite pure. The only possible way to absorb Ecstasy is directly through the mouth; therefore it is sold as pills or capsules.