The Truth about Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a Schedule I controlled substance. Ecstasy is
currently on the rise among young adults and spreading rapidly into
smaller rural communities.
MDMA, called "Adam," "ecstasy," or "XTC" on the street, is a
synthetic, psychoactive (mind-altering) drug with hallucinogenic
and amphetamine-like properties. Its chemical structure is similar
to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are
known to cause brain damage.
Beliefs about MDMA are reminiscent of similar claims made about LSD
in the 1950s and 1960s, which proved to be untrue. According to its
proponents, MDMA can make people trust each other and can break
down barriers between therapists and patients, lovers, and family
members.
Health
Hazards
Physical and psychological symptoms. Many problems users
encounter with MDMA are similar to those found with the use of
amphetamines and cocaine. They are:
Psychological difficulties, including confusion, depression, sleep
problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and paranoia during and
sometimes weeks after taking MDMA (in some cases, psychotic
episodes have been reported).
Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth
clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness,
and chills or sweating. 
Increases in heart rate and blood
pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory or heart
disease.
Long-term effects:
Recent research findings also link MDMA use to long-term damage
to those parts of the brain critical to thought and memory. It is
believed that the drug causes damage to the neurons that use the
chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons.
MDMA is also related in structure and effects to methamphetamine,
which has been shown to cause degeneration of neurons containing
the neurotransmitter dopamine. Damage to dopamine containing
neurons is the underlying cause of the motor disturbances seen in
Parkinson's disease. Symptoms of this disease begin with lack of
coordination and tremors, and can eventually result in a form of
paralysis.
