MDMA Research Paper

     Ecstasy, or 3, 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, was first synthesized and patented in 1914, by the German drug company Merck. The original purpose of the drug was to be an appetite suppressant, however in 1970 it was given to clinical depressed patients to open them up and talk about their feelings. Then in 1986, Ecstasy was determined to cause brain damage (http://faculity.washington.edu/chudler/mdma.html).

Methadone comes from the country German. Back in 1947 they ran short of the drug morphine and had to pass out methadone. When Methadone was introduced into United States it was introduced as an “analgesic (Dolophine)”. Methadone soon became a popular medical drug in United States.

Methamphetamine: A Love Story is a book documenting the lives of various people who were immersed in the culture of using, selling, and manufacturing methamphetamine. Through interviews with over 30 individuals, Rashi Shukla brings to light the drastic effects that manifested when this drug took over their lives. Shukla aims to “illuminate this dark world,” (Shukla 2016, p. 11), and to provide insight as to why methamphetamine becomes more than just a drug to those involved with it.

By 1919, Japan started producing methamphetamine which was cheaper and more potent than amphetamine. It was produced in a crystalline powder form and was able it to be dissolved in water, making it easier for it to be injected. This form of amphetamine is still legally produced in the US and is being sold under the name of Desoxyn. (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 2010, para. 1-3)

In the late 2000s the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, MAPS, received permission from the FDA to run their own MDMA-assisted therapy trials. The results were so incredible that it became the most downloaded article in 2010. Even though patients and data support the use of MDMA-assisted therapy, there is still opposition. A previous MAPS attempt at trials is seen in the article “MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Using Low Doses in a Small Sample of Women with Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder” which specifically states “political pressures led to the closing of the study before it could be finished” (Buoso 1.) It was extremely devastating because nothing went wrong, and they had very promising data. It is hard to believe that people with power felt threatened enough by the research to force the trials to end. With a growing PTSD epidemic in America, I feel that MDMA-assisted therapy is extremely promising and the side effects are nowhere near as bad as the present medication used to treat disorder.

MDMA has not always been viewed in a negative light. Its health benefits can be traced back to the mid-twentieth century. With the homecoming of World War II soldiers, MDMA use was found to be more prevalent in society. The correlation between the homecoming of the soldiers and the spike in MDMA usage led scientists to research the situation further. The scientists found that MDMA held psycho-related benefits which was most prominent in those who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Those suffering with PTSD had a hard time coping with their emotions. They felt more detached from others and had sporadic behaviors that could lead to verbal or physical abuse. In the wake of World War II, the discovery that a drug could lessen

“MDMA 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 .” It is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that has similarities to both the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline . It produces feelings of increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth and empathy toward others, and distortions in sensory and time perception . MDMA is taken orally in a capsule or tablet and the high lasts for approximately three to six hours. The so-called "club drug" is constantly being used by millions of adolescents and young adults. Although there are many more harmful drugs, MDMA has the reputation for being a safe drug only if not abused. When the decision is made to take MDMA there are several side affects of the drug including anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sadness, aggression, lack of appetite, and significant reductions in mental abilities . There are also potential adverse heath affects when the drug is used which involves sweating, jaw clenching, muscle cramping, blurred vision, a rise in body temperature, and kidney failure. Finally, there are symptoms of MDMA overdose that include high blood pressure, panic attacks, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Although there are no specific treatments for MDMA abuse, the most effective treatments are rehab and interventions to help drug- free

In 2011, researchers completed a pilot Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of introducing MDMA, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a psychedelic compound most widely known as the main ingredient in the recreational drug Ecstacy. It is recognized for producing feelings of “euphoria, empathy,

As stated in (McCaughan (2004)"Ecstasy was first developed in 1914 as a weight loss aid, it was never marketed for that purpose. In 1970 the drug began to get some popularity among clinical psychologist as an aid to psychotherapy and marriage counseling in the United States". More than a decade later, DEA placed the MDMA drug into the list of schedule drugs, however the popularity of the drug gained attention among the youth subcultures. The way that this drug is distributed throughout the public is in pill form; they vary from color and designs, an example would be superman symbol, different cartoon characters, etc.; as color goes, it varies from white, blue, pink, etc.. This drugs has also gained attention in recent Hollywood Movies like Bad Boys 2, when of

The real name for the drug is 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Molly is a popular term referring to molecular, but it is most commonly known as ecstasy. It is a drug made with lab created chemicals and most of the time people do not know what drugs are in it due to the fact it is not regulated by the FDA. This is one reason that it is such a dangerous drug to be out on the streets. Back in

The first big usage of the drug was during World War II when troops and Kamikaze pilots used methamphetamine to stay awake longer and fight off fatigue. However, after the war ended, methamphetamine soon reached the hands of the public in Japan, eventually causing an epidemic within the public between the 1940’s and 1950’s. However, in the United States during the 1950’s, methamphetamine was used to help aid weight loss and fight against depression, it was also used amongst students, truck drivers and athletes to help stimulate their bodies to fight fatigue (drugfreeworld.com). By the 1960’s, an injectable form of methamphetamine arose and rapidly increased the drug abuse. The United States banned methamphetamines by the 1970’s but it was still obtainable for those who could not afford more expensive drugs, especially through motorcycle gangs. By the 1990’s, more users and dealers were making approximately 50 pounds of meth a week in home grown labs; most were found in California

Methamphetamine was originally called Amphetamine. Amphetamine was created in Germany in 1887. Later on, an easier version of amphetamine was developed by the Japanese in 1919. It was then renamed methamphetamine. Methamphetamine was being used as a supplement in World War II by the soldiers to keep them awake. Also it was used by the Japanese Kamikaze pilot before their

The toxic stimulant called methamphetamine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in pregnancy. The drug’s noxious make-up can have terrible consequences when taken during pregnancy. Studies of the outcome of methamphetamine exposure during pregnancy have been limited because of retrospective measures of the drug use and the lack of being able to account for the possibility that mothers used other drugs besides methamphetamine. There are various effects on babies prenatally exposed to methamphetamine including, being born premature, low birth weight, heart and brain abnormalities, and behavioral issues. All these risks have an impact on a child's development.

MDMA effects three neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The feelings of strong emotion and increase in sociability are likely due to the release of serotonin, as serotonin is a large factor in mood. Serotonin is also responsible for releasing vasopressin and oxytocin, which also amplify feelings caused by MDMA. After the release of serotonin, however, the brain “comes down” from these feelings. Confusion, depression, and anxiety are common after serotonin has been depleted, and may become chronic after heavy MDMA

Drugs have been around for a very long time. They are used for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include relaxation, socialization, curiosity, stress relief, or a form of escapism. However, most people don’t know the threats and danger that it can cause to the body. In this paper, we are going to examine the changes that happen inside the brain due to the effects of different drugs. We will look closely at how drugs such as hallucinogens, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis affect an individual psychologically. I will explain the origin of the drugs, how a person feels while on the drug, how the drugs