Ecstacy / MDMA

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Pure Ecstasy is a white crystalline powder known to chemists as MDMA. Ecstasy sold on the street is usually in a tablet form (white, brown, pink or yellow) or coloured capsules. While most ecstasy is sold in pill form, crystal MDMA is starting to appear. Similar in appearance to crystal methamphetamine, it is believed to be the cause of several drug-induced seizures and overdoses, mainly because of its high purity (95%-100%).

Ingestion.

Ecstasy has been called an energy drug, users lose inhibitions, become excited and euphoric, and have a rush of energy to help them dance for hours on end. Ecstasy makes people feel 'loved up' so they feel empathy towards those they are with. Many ecstasy tablets contain other drugs such as amphetamine or LSD so any effects experienced may be due to them. Like LSD there is a heightened perception of the world.

Ecstasy use is accompanied by dilation of the pupils, dry mouth and throat, a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, tightening of the jaw, increased sweating, loss of appetite, decrease in urination and an increase in body temperature. It is the last effect that is potentially the most life threatening. The hot and humid atmosphere of the night club, the energetic dancing and the consumption of alcohol all combine with the increase in body temperature due to the drug to dehydrate the body to dangerous levels. There have been many cases of death by heat stroke attributed to these factors. The best way to avoid this is to drink about a pint of non-alcoholic fluid every hour. Excessive fluid intake can cause the brain to swell resulting in coma or death. Feelings of anxiety, panic, confusion, insomnia, auditory and visual hallucinations have been experienced by users. Long term ecstasy use may affect the immune system particularly in women and cause damage to the liver. It is unclear whether there is any long term brain damage in human users.

It's not addictive but it is possible to build up a tolerance which means people take more and more to get the same buzz. You may develop a psychological dependence.

Ecstasy is a class A drug and therefore it is illegal to possess, supply or produce the drug.