MDMA Ecstasy Molly: History, Feelings & Effects
Ecstasy (MDMA, 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also commonly called Molly, is a synthetic (lab made), psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. It is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. However, MDMA also boasts alcohol and dopamine does alcohol release dopamine other properties that attract people to experiment with it. Consumers report increased energy levels, improved mood, sharper mental clarity, and reduced anxiety. Many of these qualities have been identified as therapeutically significant too, with clinicians researching how to harness these properties to treat a range of mental health disorders. The immediate impact of ecstasy begins within about 45 minutes of taking a dose.
MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse Research Report
More research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of medical MDMA. The medical use of MDMA is highly regulated and only administered by healthcare professionals in regulated settings. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. In addition, fentanyl has been increasingly found cut into other street drugs, often unknown by the user and leading to fatalities.
Getting involved in the future of medical MDMA
Almost 60% of people who use Ecstasy report some withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, and trouble concentrating. Research in animals indicates that MDMA is neurotoxic and may affect the brain. Clinical studies suggest that MDMA may increase the risk of long-term or permanent problems with memory and learning. MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. MDMA is illegal, and there are reports that it can have negative health effects. Current regulations have classed MDMA as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Marijuana and hallucinogen use among young adults reached all time-high in 2021
- Some people who use MDMA do report symptoms of addiction, including continued use despite negative consequences, tolerance, withdrawal, and craving, according to the NIH.
- MDMA is most often available in tablet or capsule form and is usually ingested by mouth or crushed and snorted.
- Ecstasy was one of several drugs tested in a military context decades after.
- Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products.
But, like cannabis and other psychedelics, MDMA is also a recreational drug, with an estimated 20 million people around the world consuming it outside of a legal, clinical setting in 2021. National surveys in the U.S. estimate that 7.5 percent of Americans over the age of 12 have tried Ecstasy at least once. In the days following an MDMA experience, the brain can become depleted of this neurotransmitter, leading to feelings of low energy and mild depression, known as a comedown. Long-term MDMA use has been linked to a form of neurotoxicity that alters and impairs serotonin function in the brain. MDMA is a psychedelic compound that is structurally similar to amphetamine, a stimulant that accelerates activity in certain regions of the brain, and mescaline, a hallucinogen. MDMA was first synthesized by Merck, a German pharmaceutical company, back in 1912 as a medicine to control bleeding.
These stimulant effects, combined with prolonged physical activity, a hot environment, and other drugs, can result in unpredictable and serious physical complications. The user experiences feelings of euphoria, increased energy, intimacy and emotional warmth, sensitivity to touch, and a distortion of time and of the senses. Ecstasy and molly have properties similar to both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. It takes about 15 minutes for ecstasy to enter the bloodstream and reach the brain.
Ecstasy can also produce psychedelic effects, similar to the hallucinogens mescaline and LSD. Molly was made illegal in the United States in 1985, at which time it was classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule I drug, according to the Controlled Substances Act. Ecstasy was one of several drugs tested in a military context decades after. It was then re-synthesized, first by Gordon Alles, then by Alexander Shulgin, who tested it on himself, his wife, and his friends. While ecstasy was initially used primarily in nightclubs and raves, its use has now spread to a wider range of populations.
Abusers may also use in conjunction with other psychoactive drugs like LSD. As with many other « party drugs », ecstasy is rarely used alone and it is frequently combined with alcohol and marijuana. MDMA is a drug that’s commonly thought of as a party drug and is known for producing feelings of pleasure, energy, and positive emotion, along with altered sensory perception. Other drugs in this chemical group include methamphetamine and cathinone.
Dr Bronner’s has generously donated, though millions more in funding is needed. Ecstasy was first popular in the nightclub scene or at all-night dance parties known as « raves », and at concerts or festivals, but is used by others, too. Adolescents and young adults use it to reduce inhibitions and to promote feeling of euphoria (great happiness, excitement, « high »), feelings of closeness, empathy, and sexuality.
MDMA is most often available in tablet or capsule form and is usually ingested by mouth or crushed and snorted. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Make sure to always discuss clinical trials with your primary doctor and/or therapist before they begin. MDMA is legally controlled in most of the world under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and other international agreements, although exceptions exist for research and limited medical use. In general, the unlicensed use, sale or manufacture of MDMA are all criminal offences.
HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline the dangers of drinking after work have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata. Army and the CIA experimented with MDMA and other hallucinogenic drugs as weapons.
However, because MDMA affects brain chemicals, some researchers think it could have lasting effects on areas, such as cognition and mood. Mostly known as a ‘party drug,’ MDMA may also have use in therapy for PSTD, anxiety, eating disorders, and more. Animal studies show that MDMA in moderate to high doses can damage nerve cells in the brain. Some users continue to use the drug despite experiencing negative consequences. This suggests MDMA has addiction potential, although researchers have not yet confirmed this.
Another survey published in the same year showed that 1 percent of people aged 19 to 28 years in the United States (U.S.) had used the drug within the last month. Some aetna insurance coverage for drug rehab people think that this makes molly safer than other types of MDMA. The CIA experimented with MDMA as part of MK-Ultra, but only tested the drug on non-human subjects.
In the United Kingdom, MDMA was made illegal in 1977 by a modification order to the existing Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Penalties include a maximum of seven years and/or unlimited fine for possession; life and/or unlimited fine for production or trafficking. The often-added impurities, combined with the physical rigor of an all-night dance party experience, makes taking any form of MDMA significantly dangerous. These effects may be due to MDMA alone, or to the combination of MDMA use with other drugs.