ECSTASY
SCIENTIFIC TERM:
Pure ecstasy is Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). However there are many variations of this ‘designer drug' including MDEA, MDA
STREET NAMES:
E, XTC, Doves, Rhubarb & Custard and
other various brand names; Snowballs (MDA)
EFFECTS:
The effects start after approx 20min and can last for hours. Ecstasy is a stimulant with hallucinogenic properties. Taking it results in a ‘rush' followed by a sense of calm. Users report feelings of friendliness, confidence, and energy and it is usually associated with the dance culture. Users feel ‘loved up'. This relates to the feeling of oneness and empathy that users say they feel for their friends, and strangers, who are around when they are using. Ecstasy heightens perception of colour & sound. Other effects include loss of appetite, stiffening of arms, legs and jaw, rise in heart rate and temperature, some loss of coordination and concentration. It has also made some people feel sick.
DRUG FORM & METHOD OF USE:
Ecstasy most commonly comes in tablet form and is usually white, pink, brown or yellow in colour, but it can come in pretty much any colour now and may also take the form of capsules or powder. Usually ingested through the mouth. However not all tablets are pure, a range of drugs including Speed, LSD, Paracetamol and Beecham's Powders have been sold in capsule form as Ecstasy. More and more frequently KETAMINE, a vetenary anaesthetic (which has hallucinogenic depressant effects) is being passed off as E.
Most batches of tablets will have been mixed (cut) with other substances (dilutants) and whilst many of these are unpleasant most are not lethal. The majority of drugs which are cut are mixed with glucose powder or other bulk whit powders. However the fact that the make up of the tablet cannot be known adds to the risk of using.
As part of HARM REDUCTION approaches certain clubs on the continent have allowed drug testing kits to be used to determine the strength and purity of E tablets that customers are using.
The Safer Dancing campaign in the UK is aimed at making door and bar staff more aware of drug issues and how to handle drugs taking incidents appropriately.
HEALTH RISKS:
Higher doses taken regularly are likely to result in anxiety, panic, paranoia, confusion and insomnia. Depression & mood swings are also common. As Ecstasy acts as a stimulant it is particularly dangerous for those with high blood pressure, a heart condition or epilepsy. Lowers the effectiveness of the immune system and as a result can increase susceptibility to colds, flu and sore throats. There is also some evidence to suggest Ecstasy may have the potential to case brain damage resulting in mood disorders, due to it affecting the levels of serotonin (the ‘happy' neurotransmitter') in the brain.
There have been a number of deaths in the UK associated with Ecstasy use. Most have been thought to have been associated with a reaction to the drug itself, dehydration and also drinking to much water (if not dancing/sweating). Ecstasy alters the body's water balancing mechanism and so the body isn't told go to the toilet when it normally would – so too much water can build up in the body and affect the brain functions. This is known as dilutional hyponatremia. That is, people have drunk too much water in attempting to counteract the dehydrating effect of the drug. One effect of MDMA is to cause the release of a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) which prevents the production of dilute urine. Excessive drinking in turn causes fluid build up inside the body cells, particularly in the brain which soaks up the fluid and is eventually "crushed" as it swells against the inside of the skull. All its functions are irreparably damaged which leads to death (additional information courtesy of ISDD).
Overdose risk still needs to be properly assessed. However, there have been a number of deaths in the UK linked to the use of Ecstasy. Most of these are thought to have been associated with a rare but fatal drug reaction which can cause blood clots to develop in the lungs. Furthermore, heat stroke or dehydration are also thought to be possible contributing factors. There is also evidence that Ecstasy can damage the liver. The risk of overdose from MDA (a close relative of MDMA which is stronger and often sold as "E") is significantly greater.
[A dose of 500mg of MDA has proved fatal in tests. Such a dose is the equivalent of 3 MDAtablets.]
TOLERANCE:
Dependence is psychological. Tolerance develops with time and there is no evidence of physical withdrawal although after effects can include tiredness depression and anxiety. Flashbacks following repeated use over several days have also been reported.
Law:
Ecstasy is a Class A drug - illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you life and an unlimited fine.
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