EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ECSTASY

We can play music
But you want more
You want something and someone new
Am I right?
Of course I am
I know what you want
You want ecstasy
Desire and Dreams.

Jim Morrison

Ecstasy is made from MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which gives the user a simultaneous feeling of stimulation and relaxation while also providing a subtle quality of empathy. What is sold as ecstasy may in fact be a number of different drugs, primarily MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) and MDEA (3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine). All three are psychedelic amphetamines with fairly simial effects, although connoisseurs invariably prefer MDMA because of its empathic quality. MDA lasts twice as long (8-12 hours) and has a rather more amphetamine-like effect. MDEA (sometimes sold as Eve) lasts a rather shorter time (3-5 hours) and is nearer to MDMA in effect, but still lacks its communicative qualities. The ecstasy kids are buying at raves and clubs may also consist of LSD, amphetamine, caffeine and other harmful chemicals which form during the process of making the drug. Some 10% of eccys are fake and have no effect.

Ecstacy is a white crystalline powder, usually seen in pressed pills or capsules. In Australia the average cost per pill is $60 although the price can range from $30-$80. Ecstacy is usually swallowed, although it can also be injected, smoked or snorted.

WHO USES ECSTASY?

There are two distinct classes of eccy munchers. By far the most numerous are the ravers who take it for the pleasure of the high and the amphetamine-like effects. These young people may also be amenable to other drugs such as LSD, amphetamine and cannabis which may be taken in conjunction with ecstacy to increase the duration and effects of the trip. The other much smaller group are the spiritually inclined people who take ecstasy seeking personal insights and revelations.

THE EFFECTS OF XTC

The effects of MDMA depend largely on the person who is taking it and the setting it is taken in. A middle-aged psychiatrist taking ecstasy in a controlled setting surrounded by colleagues would find the experience quite different compared with an adolescent taking the drug and dancing for ten hours with thousands of others in an abandoned warehouse.

The use of ecstasy has become so widespread partly because many users experience very few side effects. A 1991 survey conducted in Sydney found that 80% of those who had tried the drug did not have any unpleasant effects, while 7% did not enjoy using the drug.

Unpleasant effects can include dizziness and nausea when the drug first takes effect and for some users this feeling can continue during the whole 'trip'. Even people who normally enjoy using ecstasy can have experiences which are unpleasant, such as hallucinations, although this is usually due to the presence of another substance such as LSD. Most advocates of MDMA believe that unpleasant effects are due to an unpleasant situation and the focus of the user's attention, not the drug itself.

Other side effects can include dry mouth and loss of appetite, jaw clenching, nystagmus (eyes twitching) and cramps. First time users who resist the effect of the drug may experience extreme headaches. Very little is known about the long-term side effects of the drug due to insufficient studies and the fact that it has only recently become popular (although it was first patented early this century). One effect on women which could be serious is the weight loss experienced by ravers due to a combination of exercise and loss of appetite. This can upset the menstrual cycle and can cause electrolyte imbalance and vitamin deficiencies.

MDMA also causes an increase in blood pressure and pulse rate similar to moderate exercise. In people with a history of high blood pressure, heart trouble, stroke, weak kidneys, liver problems or eating disorders this extra strain on the heart may prove fatal.