WHAT & WHY?

3
Ecstasy mdma : E : pills
No. 3 in a series of guides to help people understand
what drugs are and why people take them
SECOND EDITION
What?
Ecstasy is sold as tablets or capsules in a variety
of shapes and colours. The tablets often have
imprints which identify the ‘brand’; these can
become well known and sought after.
Examples of brands of ecstasy tablets include
‘doves’ (small white tablets with an imprint of
a dove) and ‘Mitsubishis’ (illustrated).
The tablets or capsules are usually swallowed, although they can be snorted up
the nose or broken up and smoked in joints. Tablets cost from £5–£15 each.
People usually take one or two. The effects begin after 30–60 minutes
and last for 6–8 hours.

3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (as it is properly called) – or MDMA

for short – was first synthesised in 1914 in the course of research into appetite
suppressants, although it was never used medically for this purpose. It is one
of 179 chemicals in the MDA hallucinogenic amphetamine ‘family.’
They are all stimulants that also alter perception.

Although most pills sold as ecstasy are MDMA, as with any ‘street drug,’
there are no guarantees as to what they contain. Sometimes the tablets
contain one of these close chemical relations of MDMA which give
similar, but not the same, effects. Ecstasy tablets have occasionally
been shown to contain small amounts of potentially harmful substances.
However, the strongly held belief of some users that they sometimes
contain heroin is false.
Ecstasy is often called a ‘designer drug.’ The term designer drug originates
from the 1960s when illicit drugs were being manufactured with slightly different
chemical formulae to avoid drug laws that banned particular substances.
The term, in this sense, is now obsolete because the Misuse of Drugs Act
now bans classes of substances rather than individual drugs. However,
the use of the term is understandable: if you were going to design a
drug for rave parties, this would be it.

There have been a number of highly publicised deaths of young people

who have used ecstasy, leading many to conclude that it is the most dangerous
drug young people can take. However, alcohol accounts for far more deaths,
and other drugs – such as heroin – which can cause overdose (and can
also be injected) also pose greater risks than ecstasy.

Most ecstasy-related deaths seem to result from a very rare reaction to the
drug that isn’t related to dose, purity or the number of times that a person has
used the drug before. The reaction may be triggered by getting too hot and/or
dehydrated while dancing. Users also need to be aware that ecstasy may
temporarily reduce kidney function and that drinking too much fluid can also
be dangerous. Advice to ravers should be to sip around a pint of non-
alcoholic fluid an hour.
Why?
Most users experience powerful, pleasurable
feelings of enhanced enjoyment of music
and dancing, ‘technicolour vision’ and a warm,
deep sense of harmony and empathy with
other users. The stimulant effects give rushes
of exhilaration and access to enough energy
to dance for hours on end.
It isn’t possible to explain ecstasy use simply in terms of peer pressure. Decisions to
take it are influenced by a number of factors to do with: the person – their psychological
make-up, mood, emotional state – with ecstasy this would typically include being
prepared to take risks, feeling good and excited and wanting to feel even better;
the drug – the physical and psychological effects of the drug on the individual (see above);
the society – the ease with which the drug can be bought, the number of people using it,
fashion, the attitudes of the person’s peer group/subculture to the drug etc.

Ecstasy is not a drug that can be taken every day for any length of time; repeated
dosing exaggerates the negative effects (paranoia, dry mouth, stiffness etc.) and reduces
positive effects. People who try to take it daily may take massive doses – 8 or more
tablets – to try to achieve the desired effect, but it is virtually impossible to sustain
these levels of use. Usually people wanting intoxication of this type every day turn to
other drugs such as cannabis, amphetamine and LSD.

This is not to say that ecstasy use is never problematic. Some users develop chronic
problems such as visual disturbances (usually seeing colours and movement that
they know aren’t there), depression, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.
Others grow to feel that they need to take the drug in order to enjoy themselves or
go out to parties. The long-term effects are not yet known. However, failure of
the rest of society to grasp the positive experience of its use – which is the norm for
many users – has led to a degree of alienation around issues of drug use and safety.
Giving exaggerated horror messages about the dangers of ecstasy, which do
not match the experience of users, may serve to discredit all drug information.
Occasional ecstasy use has become part of
the life and culture of many young people.
Most of those who take it do so simply to
have a good time and to enhance the
enjoyment of music and clubbing.
01 A handful of E’s
David Hoffman photo library

02 Mitsubishis – a well-known ‘brand’ of ecstasy tablet

Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

03 Taking an E
Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

04 Club ecstasy dealer

Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

05 Clubbing on E
Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

06 Clubber
Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

07 Into the music

Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging
Written by Andrew Preston

What & Why? 3: Ecstasy. Second edition.

Published by Exchange Supplies.
ISBN 1-903346-02-9
© Exchange Supplies 2000 –2004.
Designed by fluke.

Printed in the UK on recycled paper made from 100% chlorine-free post-consumer waste.
Responsibility for all errors, omissions and opinions lies with the author.

Exchange Supplies is an independent social enterprise producing information and resources to reduce
drug-related harm. For more information go to: www.exchangesupplies.org

The What & Why? series covers cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, methadone and harm reduction.
All titles in the series are available direct from: Exchange Supplies, tel: 01305 262244.
Additional information on LSD, mushrooms, addiction and motivation are available on our website:
www.exchangesupplies.org

Exchange Supplies, 1 Great Western Industrial Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RD.
Tel: 01305 262244 Fax: 01305 262255 Email: [email protected]
www.exchangesupplies.org

WHAT & WHY? WHAT & WHY? WHAT & WHY? WHAT & WHY? WHAT & WHY? WHAT & WHY?

Crack &
Cannabis 1
weed : dope : bud : skunk : hash : oil
No. 1 in a series of guides to help people understand
Amphetamine 2
speed : whizz : base : amphet : sulphate
No. 2 in a series of guides to help people understand
Ecstasy 3 mdma : E : pills
No. 3 in a series of guides to help people understand
Cocaine 4
c : coke : charlie : rocks : freebase
No. 4 in a series of guides to help people understand
Heroin
smack : brown : skag : diamorphine : H
No. 5 in a series of guides to help people understand
Methadone 6 meth : physeptone : juice
No. 6 in a series of guides to help people understand No. 7 in a series of guides to help people understand
what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them what drugs are and why people take them
SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION
 What & Why? is a series of booklets for anyone who
wants to understand illicit drug use.

Illustrated with stunning photography, What & Why?

explains what drugs are (how they are made, sold and used),
their effects and why people choose to take them.

Essential reading for anyone confronted

with illicit drug use at home or at work.

What & Why? is written mainly for professionals, parents

and the relatives and friends of drug users. The booklets may also provide
a useful contribution to secondary school discussion about drugs.

www.exchangesupplies.org