The love drug MDMA known as "Ecstacy"
MDMA is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs. It is a colorless oil that boils at around 155 degrees Celsius or 311 degrees Fahrenheit. In chemical parlance, MDMA is referred to as MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.MDMS / Ecstacy
In popular culture, MDMA has become widely known as "ecstasy" ("E" or "X"), usually referring to its street pill form. The terms "molly" or "mandy" ("M") can colloquially refer to MDMA in crystalline or powder form.
Effects of MDMA or Ecstacy
MDMA can induce euphoria, a sense of intimacy with others, and reduced anxiety. Many studies have suggested that MDMA has therapeutic benefits. Clinical trials are testing its therapeutic potential for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety associated with terminal cancer.
Legal Implications of MDMA
MDMA drug has been criminalized in most countries under a United Nations agreement, and its possession, sale, or manufacture may result in criminal prosecution, although limited exceptions exist for scientific and medical research. Regulatory authorities in some locations around the world have approved scientific studies administering MDMA to humans, in particular, to examine its therapeutic potential and its effects.
History of MDMA or Ecstacy
MDMA was first synthesized in 1912 by a Merck chemist Anton Köllisch. During that time, Merck was interested in developing substances that stopped abnormal bleeding. On directives from his superiors Walther Beck and Otto Wolfes, Köllisch developed a preparation of a hydrastinine analogue, methylhydrastinine. MDMA is an intermediate compound in the synthesis of methylhydrastinine.
At that time Merck was not interested in MDMA's properties, but on December 24, 1912, Merck filed two patent applications that described the synthesis of MDMA and its subsequent conversion to methylhydrastinine.
MDMA's history is clouded in mystery, with some unknown development facts. Köllisch died in World War I, however, further research and experiments of MDMA have been done in more recent years. The best known work is by biochemist Alexander Shulgin. After graduating with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the university of California at Berkeley, he took a job as research chemist with Dow Chemicals. Among his achievements for the company was a profitable insecticide and several controversial for what were to become later as street drugs.
Although MDMA has been used as treatment for patients in some areas of psychotherapy, it is best known of its untoward impact on its illegal drug implications.
Note: This article was originally published October 29, 2011, updated Dec 1, 2013, to include a video about MDMA from BuzzFeed, entitled "These are the facts about MDMA" by Hillary Devine, Nov 6, 2013.
Resources:
- MDMA (ECSTACY) Fast Facts - www.justice.gov
- MDMA - en.wikipedia.org
- NIDA Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA Infofacts: MDMA (Ecstacy)
- The Invention of MDMA or Ecstacy - inventors.about.com
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