Michelle Fournier

Chemistry 110

04-24-00

Ecstasy: What does it do and will it cause brain damage?

MDMA (3, 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), or ecstasy, is making its way into every nightclub and college campus across the country. It is a central nervous system stimulant, hallucinogen, and a selective serotonergic neurotoxin. Most people who use the drug have no idea what it is or even how it works. It is important for people to make informed decisions about what they put in their bodies, even if the substance is illegal. So, what is ecstasy and what does it do?

First, it is important to understand what ecstasy is, technically speaking. MDMA’s chemical name is N, alpha-Dimethyl-1, 3-benzodiozole-5-ethanamime or 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or also N-methyl-3, 4-methenedioxphenylisopropylamine. It is also referred to as Ecstasy, E, XTC, and Adam. The chemical formula for MDMA is C11H15NO2. It has a molecular weight of 193.25. It is chemically related to both hallucinogens and stimulants.

According to the Erowid MDMA Vault, MDMA causes serotonin neurons to release large amounts of serotonin. This release is responsible for most of the pleasurable effects of ecstasy (which is refers to by users as the "roll"). Ecstasy also causes the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. The onset of an MDMA-induced high can last between 20 to 90 minutes, and then "coming up" lasts 5 to 20 minutes. After that, the user reaches a plateau, which can last 2 to 3 hours, and the begins to come down, which takes 1 to 2 hours. The after effects of MDMA can last anywhere from three to twenty-four hours. The increased serotonin receptor binding leads to a significant change in the brain’s electrical firing, which is responsible for the MDMA experience.

The pleasurable effects of MDMA are extreme mood lift, energy increase, feelings of love, empathy, comfort, belonging and closeness to others, increased willingness to communicate, increased awareness of senses, bright and intense sensations, and the desire for physical contact. There are also effects that are considered neutral or negative; these include- visual distortion, appetite loss, restlessness, shivering, involuntary eye jiggling (nystagmus), inappropriate emotional bonding, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, muscle tension, mild depression and fatigue for up to seven days, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and possible neurotoxicity.

The issue of neurotoxicity is very controversial and is probably the most dangerous long-term effect of MDMA use. Because legitimate research on the effects of ecstasy on the brain is almost non-existent, no one really knows what will happen to users in the future. So, what evidence is there to tell us if MDMA does cause permanent brain damage?

There have been studies on MDMA, most of them taking place before the US DEA placed the drug on the Schedule I classification of the Controlled Substances Act in 1985. In 1994, MDMA was legally administered in the US for the first time since it was criminalized. It was then that a FDA-approved dose-escalating, double blind safety study was conducted. The reason for this study was to investigate the use of MDMA in the treatment of cancer pain, as a psychotherapeutic treatment of anxiety and depression, and in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. The most significant side effect was blood pressure instability. The research was stopped, however, due to lack of funding. There is still not enough research on whether or not MDMA causes neurotoxicity.

There are many ways to examine changes in brain state following the use of MDMA. The most direct, yet invasive, methods include- observing degenerating neurons via silver staining techniques, observing structural abnormalities in serotnin-immunoactive neurons, and observing elevations in GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) which occur as a reaction to neuron damage. The only conclusion made from this research was that MDMA was shown to cause brain damage at high levels in experimental animals, but not in humans. However, neurochemical markers might not be good indicators of neurotoxicity. It is hard to draw parallels between the animal and human brain, because it is still not positively known what MDMA does to the human brain. Lack of research makes the neurotoxicity of MDMA unknown.

MDMA is related in structure and effects to methamphetamine, which has been shown to cause degeneration of neurons containing the neurotransmitter dopamine. Damage to these neurons is the primary cause of Parkinson’s disease. One anecdotal observation on the possible neurotoxicity of MDMA is that a recent survey of college students (of which a significant number had taken MDMA more than once) indicated that each time the drug is used the effects are different. No other drugs are known that, when taken infrequently, cause different effects at different doses. This indicates that there is an irreversible effect on the brain.

MDMA use is on the rise among young people. The high that results from the increase in serotonin is very pleasurable and many feel the possible risk of brain damage is worth it. The neurotoxicity of MDMA will not be known without many extensive, long-term studies. In the meantime, kids across America will keep on putting themselves at risk, simply because no one has told them otherwise.

1. http://ecstasy.org *****

Who runs the site- A non-profit, volunteer organization.

Description- This site is very informative about ecstasy. It describes the culture and mentality of the Rave scene and the drugs that are involved (specifically MDMA) There is technical and medical descriptions of the drug. There are articles about toxicity, manufacturing and research of ecstasy. It also provides links to other sites about the drug.

Audience- This site is specifically intended for high school and college kids who attend Raves. It is an information site so people know exactly what they are doing to their bodies.

2. www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma.shtml ****

Who runs the site- A non-profit organization that researches the use of mind-altering drugs.

Description- This site has info on the chemistry of MDMA, the effects, safety, testing and analysis and synthesis.

Audience- Intended for users of MDMA, parents or whoever wants to know about the drug.

3. http://yage.lycaeum.org/drugs/Phenethylamines/MDMA/ ***

Who runs the site- A non-profit group committed to supplying "honest information" about visionary plants, fungi and chemicals. They call themselves an ethneogenic community, which means they support the use of mind-altering drugs.

Description- Information on chemical structure, synthesis, herbal alternatives, neurotoxicity, deaths, testing, and governmental involvement.

Audience- This site is intended for the use of young people who use MDMA, so they know more about what they are actually taking.

4. www.dancesafe.org/ehealth.html ****

Who runs the site- A non-profit harm reduction organization promoting health and safety within the rave/nightclub community.

Description- This is the best site I found on how MDMA actually works. They have a detailed slide show that shows what MDMA does in the brain, information on side effects and how to stay safe if you do take MDMA.

Audience- Anyone who goes to raves or nightclubs, so they will understand what they are doing to their bodies.

5. www.chem.ox.ac.uk/mom/ecstasy/ecstasy.html **

who runs the site- An anti-drug organization

Description- This site gives general information about ecstasy. It presents the health problems associated with MDMA and gives a lot of chemical, technical data.

Audience- This site is basically designed for parents or people who are against drugs.