Ecstasy
ecstasi- E
- Ecstasy
- MDMA
- Phenethylamines
- Magic
- Pills
- XTC
- Disco Biscuits
- Molly
Scientific Names: Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine abbreviated to MDMA
Generic Names: Phenethylamines, Empathogens.
Desired Effects:
- Euphoria
- Empathy
- Exhilaration
- Energy.
Side Effects:
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaw clenching (bruxism)
- Teeth grinding
- Rapid eye movement (nystagmus)
- Dehydration
- Confusion
- Anxiety, paranoia.
After an MDMA experience many users report feeling fatigue, anxiety, or low mood for days or sometimes longer.
- If you can, check the contents of your pills and powders beforehand using a reagent test. These are far from perfect but are easy to get hold off. If you or your friends are attending a club night or festival and have purchased the MDMA in advance, send a sample to WEDINOS for testing.
- You never know what is in the tablet or powder you get so be careful – start with a quarter or at most half a pill to see what the effects are and wait at least an hour before taking any more.
- Crush and take a dab of any powders or crystals and again wait at least an hour to gauge the potency or any adverse reactions.
- If using MDMA and dancing, take regular breaks to cool down as ecstasy can cause overheating and dehydration. Whether you are dancing or not, you should sip water regularly up to (but no more than) a pint an hour. Drinking excessive amounts of water in one go can be dangerous.
- If you feel yourself overheating, take a break, go somewhere cool, take off any hats or excess clothes, sip water and/or splash it on your skin. If can’t don’t cool go to welfare or seek medical help.
- Mixing ecstasy with alcohol will increase the risk of dehydration and can make you take more risks; and mixing ecstasy with any other drugs increases the risks even further and can be very dangerous.
- If you choose to use ecstasy it is safer to use small amounts on an occasional basis, giving your body time to recover.
- If someone is suffering bad effects like vomiting, or convulsions call for medical assistance immediately. If they are unconsciousness - put them in the recovery position and then call for medical assistance.
Short term risks
Unknown contents, heatstroke, collapse, coma
Desired risks
Euphoria, Empathy, Exhilaration, Energy
Long term risks
Affects to mental wellbeing, Depression, Liver and kidney damage
Long term risks:
Long term risks are still unclear and there is some disagreement among experts, but it is generally thought infrequent and mild use may not cause detrimental effects in the long term, while frequent and heavy use is more likely to result in both psychological and physical harm.Short term risks:
- Ecstasy is often mis-sold in a pill or powders that may contain no active substances or occasionally more dangerous ones. Most commonly mis-sold pills and powders contain cathinones, most often in doses that are usually no more (or less) risky than MDMA. However, MDMA powders are frequently very high purity and pills are often more than twice what is considered a strong dose.
- Many of the potent pills come with a break line as they and intended to contain more than one dose.
- Overdose of MDMA depends both on the dose, your bodyweight, and individual differences, as no two people react in the same way.
- There were 78 deaths associated with MDMA in England and Wales in 2024.
- Deaths often involve a toxic reaction (poisoning) but can also involve heart failure and heatstroke.
- Heatstroke is a condition where MDMA (or other stimulants) raise the bodies temperature to dangerously high levels, which can be exacerbated by dancing for extended periods in hot clubs.
Parents & other relatives
Drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents of young people using these drugs. Many street agencies can provide relative support groups or counselling for family members, partners etc.
