The dangerous effects of ecstasy
Transcript of The dangerous effects of ecstasy
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THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF
ECSTASY
By: Josie Casillas
10/ 10/2010
PSY 370
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WHAT IS ECSTASY?
Ecstasy is the street name for MDMA.
MDMA = 3, 4 Methylene-dioxy-N-methyl-amphetamine
The 3,4 indicates the way in which the components of the
molecule are joined together, as it is possible to produce
an isomer which has all the same components but is
joined differently. (Bellis, 2010)
Although it is derived from organic material, MDMA
itself does not occur in nature, and must be created in a
complex laboratory process. (Bellis, 2010)
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WHAT IS ECSTASY (CONTINUED)…
• It is a mood/mind altering drug and like Prozac works by
effecting the chemical level of Serotonin in our brains, a
'neurotransmitter' that is naturally present in the brain which can alter
our emotions.
Chemically the drug is amphetamine like, but
psychologically it's what's known as an empathogen-
entactogen, empathogenic means the ability to
communicate things to others or the ability to feel empathy
towards others and entactogenic means feeling well or good
with yourself and the world. (Bellis, 2010)
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WHAT DOES ECSTASY LOOK LIKE?
Usually Ecstasy comes in little easy to swallow
tablets. They vary in shape, size & color and
usually have some sort of logo printed on them.
(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)
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POPULAR STREET NAMES FOR ECSTASY/
MDMA
X or E
Adam or Stacy
Empathy
Roll
Bean
XTC
Lover’s Speed
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HISTORY OF ECSTASY
MDMA [aka. Ecstasy] was patented in 1913 (patent #274.350)
by the German chemical company Merck supposedly to be sold
as a diet pill (the patent does not mention any intended use), the
company decided against marketing the drug and had nothing
more to do with it…
Urban legend has it that the US army was testing MDMA in
1953 as a possible truth serum, but there is no real evidence
supporting this.
(Narconon, 2010).
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PROFESSOR X
Alexander Shulgin [aka “Professor X”] is responsible for
brining MDMA back for modern research; who after graduating
from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in
biochemistry landed a job as a research chemist with Dow
Chemicals.
“MDMA is but one of 179 psychoactive drugs which he described
in detail, but it is the one which he felt came closest to fulfilling his
ambition of finding the perfect therapeutic drug” (Bellis, 2010)
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HISTORY AND THE DEA
In 1985, after receiving massive media attention,
a group of people sued the DEA (US Drug
Enforcement Agency) to try to prevent them
from outlawing the drug by placing it on
Schedule 1. (Bellis, 2010).
However, later on that same year, congress passed a law to
allow the DEA to put an emergency ban on the drug because
of it’s dangers.
Some scientists argued that the drug caused brain damage
and therefore should not be used.
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FDA ISSUES
Unfortunately in 1993, Trial research into the
effects of MDMA on human volunteers resumed
with the approval of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
The first psychoactive drug approved for human testing by the
FDA. (Bellis, 2010)
Since 1993, not much has changed… While the
drug is still illegal on the streets, the FDA still
does regular testing of MDMA in different
regions under a schedule 1 license.
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WHO USES?
Ecstasy is popular among middle-class adolescents and
young adults who use the drug for recreation.
It is also recognized as a popular “dance drug”.
It is sold by drug dealers at:
Bars
Underground Nightclubs
Raves' (all night parties)
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WHY DO PEOPLE USE ECSTASY?
Drug Effects last between 4-6 hours.
Makes people feel:
Happy
Relaxed
Empathetic
Loved
Energetic
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PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Confusion
Depression
Anxiety
Sleeplessness
Craving for the drug
Paranoia
Confident
Hallucinations
Insomnia
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DANGEROUS PHYSICAL EFFECTS
• Muscle Tension
• Involuntary Teeth Clenching
• Nausea
• Rapid Eye Movement
• Sweating or Chills
• Tremors
• Blurred Vision
• Increases body temperature
• Increases blood pressure
• Increases Heart Rate
• People who have circulatory problems or heart disease face particular risks because MDMA can increase heart rate and blood pressure.
(National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006)
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LONG TERM EFFECTS
Brain Damage
Impairment of the serotonin system and memory performance
Depression
Heart failure
Kidney failure
Hyperthermia
Dehydration
Hypertension
(The Good Drugs Guide, 2010)
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REFERENCE:
Bellis, M. (2010). The Invention of MDMA or Ecstasy. Retrieved on October 14, 2010 from
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980311.htm
Narconon. (2010). History of Ecstasy (MDMA). Retrieved on October 7, 2010 from
http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/ecstasy-history.html
National Drug Intelligence Center. (2006). MDMA (Ecstasy) Fast Facts. Retrieved on
October 14, 2010 from
http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3494/index.htm#look%20like
The Good Drugs Guide (2010). Ecstasy Effects. Retrieved on October 15, 2010 from
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ecstasy/effects.htm