(Ecstasy, E, X, XTC, Rolls, Beans, Adam, Molly)

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

C11H15NO2

Disclaimer: MDMA is a potentially illegal substance, and we do not encourage or condone the use of this substance where it is against the law. However, we accept that illegal drug use occurs, and believe that offering responsible harm reduction information is imperative to keeping people safe. For that reason, this guide is designed to ensure the safety of those who decide to use the substance.

Overview 01

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or Molly, is primarily a recreational drug that causes euphoric feelings, increased empathy with others, and enhanced sensations. Sounds and colors are often experienced more intensely, making MDMA a popular recreational drug at raves and music festivals.

Currently, it is in Phase III clinical trials for use as a therapeutic aid in the treatment of PTSD, and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy status by the FDA.

It is most commonly taken as an oral tablet that comes in a variety of shapes and colors, but it can also be snorted or smoked.

MDMA can be deadly when combined with other drugs (especially PMA/PMMA), and can also be deadly on its own at high doses.

History & Stats 02

The history of MDMA began decades before the rave culture that popularized it.

A common myth perpetuated by both the scientific community and media outlets is that MDMA was first synthesized and patented by the German pharmaceutical company Merck as an appetite suppressant.

Merck did synthesize the drug in 1912, but the appetite suppressant story is an urban legend. Instead, it was developed as a potentially life-saving blood clotting medicine.

Very little, if any, testing was done in the early years after its first synthesis. It wasnt until 1927 that Merck revived interest in the drug. A chemist named Max Oberlin predicted that MDMA might mimic adrenaline since the chemicals shared a similar molecular structure. Not long after these initial studies, however, the prices of chemical precursors skyrocketed and testing was put on hold.

It is not exactly known when the first human trials with MDMA were conducted, but the US military is known to have tested it and other drugs on humans in the 1950s.

The first recipe for MDMA was published in a polish-language scientific journal in 1960 and tablets began popping up in seized contraband in the 1970s.

Dr. Alexander Shulgin first read about MDMA in the early 1970s at which point he synthesized it and tried it himself, becoming the first person to officially record ecstasy use in a human subject in 1978.[1] In the 1980s, its use in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy was said to increase patient self-esteem and facilitate therapeutic communication.[2]

While Shulgin is often called the Godfather of Ecstasy, the real creator of MDMA was a German scientist named Anton Kollisch, who died in 1916 never knowing the legacy he left.

Since 1985, MDMA has been listed as a schedule I drug in the United States, making it effectively illegal for all uses, but some limited clinical trials have been approved and conducted in recent years. In 2011, a federal court sided with the ACLU who argued that punishments for MDMA possession and use were based on outdated science which led to overly severe prison sentences,[3] but other courts have upheld the previous sentencing laws.

The annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that MDMA had been used at least once by 13.1% of people between the ages of 18 and 25, and 6.5% of people age 26 and over. Full results from the survey are below.

These trends appear to be holding relatively steady:

Its appearance in published reports and literature reached a peak in the early- to mid- 2000s and has fallen quite a bit since then:

Google search interest over the past decade or so has slowly but steadily increased before plateauing the past few years:

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MDMA Street Names 03

As one of the most popular psychedelics and party drugs, MDMA has earned a varied assortment of street names. In fact, there may be more nicknames for MDMA than for any other substance besides weed.

Some of these refer to the compound generally, in whatever form, while others refer to set preparations. Ecstasy could fall into either category but it usually refers to tablets, or pills.[15] Its name was supposedly changed from Empathy early on to boost sales appeal.[16]

The marketing of ecstasy pills, complete with trusted logos and brand names,[17] has actually spawned a number of other enduring street names, including Doves. However, most ecstasy brand names, while popular in their own right, havent caught on as street names for pills in general. These include Mitsubishi, Little Rocket, and Dolphin (or Blue Dolphin).[18]Some other generic street names for pills include:

Molly, short for molecular,[19] refers to crystal (powder) MDMA.[15] In the UK, its also known as Mandy. Other names from around the world include:[20]

Pharmacology 04

MDMA affects the brain by increasing activity levels of three different neurotransmitters: dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and serotonin.[4]

Increases in dopamine account for euphoric effects, as well as increased energy. Physiological effects while under the influence of ecstasy are caused by increases in norepinephrine/noradrenaline. These include increased heart rate and blood pressure.MDMA effects on the serotonin system cause characteristic changes in mood, appetite, sexual arousal, and sleep cycles. Spikes in serotonin after taking MDMA likely account for feelings of emotional closeness and empathy that are commonly reported by users.

Potentially fatal neurological complications can occur following MDMA ingestion, likely due to short-term hypertension and dehydration that is induced by the drug. Necrosis of liver and heart tissue has also been reported in individuals where death was associated with the use of amphetamine derivatives.[5]

Many fatal cases are due to abnormally high doses, prior health complications, a bad batch of MDMA, or a combination of all of these. Its also particularly difficult to tell exactly how much of role MDMA plays in adverse reactions in many cases because users are more likely to have used multiple drugs.[6] Like with any substance, it should be used in moderation, as heavy users tend to experience more complications than occasional users.[7]

Clinical studies with pure MDMA have been conducted on over 1100 individuals without the occurrence of severe adverse effects.[8]

Pure MDMA? 05

The purity of MDMA is notoriously variable, especially in tablet form. In the US, for instance, the average MDMA concentration in ecstasy tablets (or pills) is reported to be 30.13%.[21] But this includes samples as low as 0% and as high as 100%. Also, while the sample size varies (from 1 to 1000 pills), individual state averages can be double or half the national average.

Still, this is something of a recent improvement. In 2008, police seizures of the chemical precursor safrole meant that, for years, street MDMA concentration in ecstasy pills was very often zero.[22] Since then, the percentage of dud pills (tablets containing no MDMA) has been rapidly falling. Meanwhile, the percentage of ecstasy pills containing MDMA alone, without any adulterants, has been climbing. In 2009, 60.1% of ecstasy tablets worldwide contained no MDMA whatsoever, whereas just 8.7% contained MDMA alone. By 2018, the situation was reversed: 8.8% of ecstasy tablets contained no MDMA, while 54.8% contained MDMA alone.[23]

Part of this has to do with new manufacturing methods. Underground chemists now synthesize MDMA with a less heavily restricted precursor. But it also has to do with the darknet, where vendor ratings and competition naturally drive the quality up.[24]

In fact, far from the days of there being too little MDMA in pills, nowadays theres often too much. Super-strength ecstasy tablets have made headlines in recent years for killing unsuspecting users. Whereas the MDMA content in ecstasy pills is traditionally between 80 and 120mg, some have been found to contain upwards of 300mg.[25] A high-end dose like this can be dangerous enough in itself, let alone when youre not expecting it.

EcstasyData.org and Pill Reports are excellent resources for gauging the safety of specific pills.However, they should only be used as a guide. The safest way to use ecstasy pills is to start with just half a tablet and gauge how you feel over an hour.[26][27]

What about the purity of Molly (crystal MDMA)?

Despite what you may have been sold, even in crystal or powder form, pure MDMA is difficult to find on the street. However, street MDMA concentration has been climbing in recent years. In the UK, at least, it has apparently reached 83%.[28] Accounting for the molar mass of the hydrochloride (HCl) salt that most MDMA is made as, this is pretty much the maximum purity.[29]

MDMA in pure form, or free base MDMA, has by definition a purity of 100%.

Unfortunately, whatever form its in, your ecstasy is unlikely to be pure. In other words, theres probably something else in itand adulterants can sometimes be deadly.Using an MDMA test kit is a good precaution. These can show up the presence of, firstly, MDMA, and secondly, toxic adulterants by a color change you can check on a chart. However, chemical reagent tests like this cannot tell you the purity and theyre only indicative at best. They should, therefore, be used alongside other harm reduction practices.[30]

A caution on PMA/PMMA (aka Death)

The prohibition of MDMA in most countries (and especially the police seizures of safrole in 2008/2010 interrupting the supply of ecstasy) has led to the emergence of unknown alternatives. These substances, about which we know relatively little, tend to be far more dangerous than MDMA. And yet theyre legal by default in many jurisdictions.

Following the procedure for making MDMA with aniseed oil instead of safrole, for example, yields not ecstasy but the problematic substances para-Methoxyamphetamine (PMA) or para-Methoxy-N-methylamphetamine (PMMA).[37] Both have been implicated in the deaths of unsuspecting users from as early as 1993.[38] In December 2014/January 2015, for instance, at least three men died after taking the same pink Superman pills containing PMA.[36][37]

PMA/PMMA can be 10-20 times more potent than MDMA.[36][37] So users taking a safe dose of what they believe to be ecstasy could be massively overdosing on a far riskier substance. PMA/PMMA are also slower-acting, which means experienced ecstasy users are likely to re-dose too soon, taking even more of this harmful drug into their bodies.

The trouble is, PMA/PMMA are not analogs of MDMA. They have a different pharmacological action. Unlike ecstasy, they block certain enzymes (e.g. monoamine oxidase, or MAO) that offset the release of serotonin. And, as a result, they can lead to serotonin syndrome, which can be deadly.[37][38]

Reagent testing can help to identify the presence of PMA/PMMA; however, the presence of real MDMA could disguise the presence of PMA/PMMA as adulterants. Checking pills against user reports online, e.g. at EcstasyData.org and Pill Reports, is, therefore, a sensible precaution.

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Microdosing is the most exciting trend in the world today when it comes to unlocking creativity, focus, and self-expression. But a lot of people dont know where to start or get overwhelmed by trying to figure everything out themselves from broken resources around the internet.

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Effects 06

Most tablets available for recreational use contain between 80 and 150 mg of MDMA.[9] At this dose level, the onset of effects occur approximately 20 to 60 minutes after taking the drug, and the characteristic effects (euphoria, increased empathy, increased energy, enhanced sensations) typically last for 3 to 5 hours.

The MDMA high is usually characterized by a relaxed, euphoric state, including emotional openness, empathy, reduction of negative thoughts, and a decrease in inhibitions. Sounds and colors can also appear more intense.

Some adverse physiological effects can occur after ingesting MDMA and include elevated blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, chills, sweating, tremor, jaw clenching, hyperreflexia, urinary urgency, muscle aches or tension, hot and cold flushes, nystagmus, and insomnia. At higher doses, these physiological changes can result in severe adverse reactions.

MDMA overdose can (and does) kill. A high dose of MDMA can be a contributing factor in deadly conditions such as hyperthermia, exhaustion or hyperhydration. Additionally, MDMA can trigger serotonin syndrome, a potentially deadly overloading of the bodys serotonin levels.

Many people report an unpleasant comedown after a night of heavy MDMA use, including feelings of depression and fatigue. In our microdosing course, MDMA expert Dr Ben Sessa explains how the typical MDMA comedown is due to overexertion, poor sleep, poor diet, and polydrug use. As such, the MDMA comedown can be countered by eating and sleeping well after taking MDMA, keeping hydrated if youre dancing, and avoiding taking any other substances (including alcohol). Additionally, supplement kits are available online, claiming to help prepare and repair your body.

Myths 07

Although one of the most famous ecstasy-related deaths was caused by overhydration, MDMA itself will not make you drink yourself to death. The victim in this infamous case thought that by drinking a large amount of water, they would counteract an unpleasant ecstasy experience. Unfortunately, MDMA also makes it harder for the body to process water, meaning she died from water retention.

This doesnt mean you should avoid drinking water on ecstasy. Taking a very high dose of ecstasy can cause an inability to regulate your hydration, so you should make sure youre drinking water regularly. This is especially if youre dancing or exerting yourself.

The main cause of ecstasy-related deaths is a lack of education. People dont know how to take the drug safely, and end up increasing their health risks. When used responsibly, it is a relatively safe drug.

Although MDMA is very popular for use in clubs due to its enhancement of music and dance, that doesnt mean its exclusively a clubbers drug. Many people take it in a spiritual or therapeutic context. It can be used for various forms of personal and relationship development, and clinical trials are using it to treat sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder.

There is no evidence that moderate use of MDMA (less than 100mg every few weeks) can cause damage to your brain.

Frequent, high dose use can cause heart problems and memory problems. Additionally, its relatively easy to overdose on MDMA if its combined with other drugs, especially PMA/PMMA. MDMA overdose can be lethal.

So although sensible use is relatively safe, it can be harmful in large amounts.

Therapeutic Use 08

In 2017, MDMA was approved for use in Phase 3 clinical trials in the US to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[10] [11] This is one of the last phases of testing before a drug is legally approved for therapeutic use. The trials are being funded by MAPS.

MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD involves only a few administrations of the drug alongside guided professional therapy. The drug used in these trials is pure, with dosages strictly controlled unlikely the typical use of recreational ecstasy.

Patients who have undergone this therapy typically have a particularly treatment-resistant form of PTSD (many of them are war veterans). They report that MDMA therapy helped them approach their past trauma with a greater sense of acceptance, warmth, and compassion for themselves, allowing them greater opportunity to cope and heal.

Read more about the use of MDMA in the treatment of PTSD here.

Preliminary results from a few studies suggest MDMA is also a promising treatment for social anxiety in individuals with autism.[12] In a clinical setting, it can be used to shift a patient with social anxiety towards openness and encourage introspection. Early results suggest this is accomplished with infrequent or even single doses, eliminating the need for frequent administration of the drug, thereby mitigating the possible adverse side effects and many of the costs associated with longer-term, more involved therapies.

This same mechanism appears to operate in treating patients with life-threatening illnesses who experience clinical anxiety as well.[13]

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Microdosing is the most exciting trend in the world today when it comes to unlocking creativity, focus, and self-expression. But a lot of people dont know where to start or get overwhelmed by trying to figure everything out themselves from broken resources around the internet.

Thats why we put together this detailed, step-by-step course. It explains everything you wanted to know about microdosing (and even answers the questions you didnt know to ask).

Personal Growth 09

Opinions vary among spiritual leaders and guides, but MDMA is sometimes cited as a tool that can be used for spiritual growth. Some spiritual teachers laud its ability to induce feelings of oneness, interconnectedness, empathy, compassion, warmth and kindness towards others, and, importantly, a lack of self-consciousness. States such as these are often catalysts for spiritual epiphanies and further spiritual and personal development.

As one Benedictine monk put it:

MDMA always propels me into an intimate space in conversation. There is a special quality to this conversation. One feels a heaviness, a sense of the weight of the moment, of something profound, of the seriousness of life itself. It is a space that is inner, without masks, without pretense, utterly open and honest. It is not an erotic intimacy, but a philosophical and mystical intimacy. Does this make any sense? One has the consciousness that this is an inner communication rarely achieved in ordinary discourse. There really are no adequate words to express this state of awareness, only to say, that it is essential in my experience.

MDMA can be used in many different sets and settings to invoke spiritual development from sitting quietly and introspecting, to meditating in groups, to therapy. Even rolling at raves can have a spiritual quality if the user approaches it with the right intentions.

MDMA could also be a useful tool for building or repairing relationships. Alexander Shulgin, the Godfather of Ecstasy, has written frequently on its potential use as a therapy for couples. The emotional intimacy produced by ecstasy could be the key to understanding our relationships and perhaps finding the places that need work.

Other resources:

Legality 10

MDMA is a Schedule I substance in the United States, which makes it illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess without a DEA license.[39] Scandalously, this scheduling also suggests that ecstasy has no therapeutic valuecontrary to the findings of MDMA clinical trials for PTSD. However, given the strength of this research, it seems very likely (if not inevitable) that medical MDMA will soon be available on prescription.[40]

In the UK its a Class A, which is basically the same as Schedule I: Buying, selling or making MDMA is illegal without a license.[41]

The same is true in the majority of countries, but some are more permissive in practice. In the Netherlands, for example, where MDMA is very much illegal, possession of small amounts is often ignored by the police.[39] Meanwhile, in Peru, its perfectly legal to possess up to 250mg (one quarter of a gram) of MDMA, so long as its the only drug on you.[39][42]

FAQ 11

MDMA stands for 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Also known as ecstasy, its one of the most popular psychedelics in the world. Its widely seen as more of a party drug than LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and so on. But its currently re-emerging as a breakthrough psychotherapeutic aid.[31]Researchers are especially enthusiastic about the potential for MDMA in PTSD treatment.

It comes in two basic forms: Tablets (or pills) and crystals (or powder). MDMA pills are often called ecstasy while Molly is MDMA in powder form, or MDMA crystals.

Ecstasy is a type of amphetamine, a stimulant class of drugs that includes speed and methamphetamine. But MDMA is considerably more benign than each of these. As an amphetamine, its also part of the phenethylamine class of substances, like mescaline. Of course, the effects are again substantially different. Based on these, MDMA may be classed as an entactogen or euphoric empathogen.

Regardless of MDMA dosage, ecstasy is a stimulating drug. Most people report a physical and emotional euphoria, along with mild visual effects, such as color enhancement. Increased stamina (e.g. for dancing) is also common.

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Learn Everything You Need To Know About MDMA (Ecstasy)