History of Ecstasy
The pharmaceutical name for ecstasy is MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), which is a synthetic psychoactive drug. It is very similar chemically to methamphetamine and mescaline. MDMA is also referred to on on the street as ecstasy, Adam, XTC, hug, beans, and love drug.
Ecstasy is one of several drugs known as “club drugs” because they are frequently used by teens and young adults in the nightlife scene. It's popularity is due to its ability to create a euphoric state, reduce inhibitions, and create feelings of closeness and empathy. In 2005, it was the club drug most commonly abused, even more so than Rohypnol, GHB, and/or ketamine.
Ecstasy is typically sold in tablet form, these tablets often contain other substances, such as methamphetamine, ketamine, caffeine, and amphetamine.
It was believed that ecstasy was created as a "designer drug" - which is a drug that is made to be similar to an illegal drug that avoids anti-drug laws. An article published in July 2006 in Addiction states this is not true.
A paper called “The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited", states the true story is that MDMA was first synthesized at Merch in 1912, and was developed as a drug to help control bleeding. It was not tested pharmacologically, and it was called Methylsafrylamin. It was eventually studied on its own in 1927 and 1959, but not tested in humans.
In 1967, Dr. Alexander Shulgin resynthesized MDMA. Dr. Shulgin is know for inventing “80% of the world’s known hallucinogenic drugs”. He had heard it was considered a stimulant but didn’t have the same effects as one. During testing, he discovered its power to lower inhibition, and thought it could be useful in psychotherapy, he then distributed samples to psychologists. It was used legally for a while in the treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among other things. Once the dangers and side effects of this drug started to be manifested they discontinued the use of the drug. MDMA was made illegal in 1985.
