...Running Head: Ecstasy Ecstasy; the Party Drug That Does Not Feel So Good College students and party people love to go out on the town and feel good, but what they do not realize is that the very drug that makes everyone love each other is just a killer in disguise. Ecstasy popularly known as MDMA can cause great harm for just a fun dancing filled night. Ecstasy is becoming more and more popular to be used as a rave drug (Kalant, H. 2001). This means that people are using MDMA is a way that is uncontrolled and unsupervised; this can cause great damage to the brain and irreversible side effects. People do not realize how unsafe ecstasy can be to the body and brain especially. Ecstasy is an amphetamine derivative that also has some effects that resemble mescaline (Kalant, H. 2001). Due to this nature ecstasy users experience a high that creates an atmosphere that feels safe and loving when in reality the users are experiencing intense reactions to a fully synthetic drug. Ecstasy user experiences a “wakefulness, endurance and sense of energy, sexual arousal, and postponement of fatigue and sleepiness “and “the user feels a freeing sense of euphoria, well- being, sharpened sensory perception, greater sociability, extraversion, heightened sense of closeness to other people, and greater tolerance of their views and feelings” (Kalant, H. 2001). The drug MDMA has been known as the feel good drug for decades now. It can be bought in many different places by many different...
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...Ecstasy MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Ecstasy, as it is commonly referred to, is a dangerous substance that has most recently become the subject of great attention due to the controversy over the safety of taking Ecstasy. Ecstasy is a dangerous drug that should never be taken under any circumstance. Ecstasy is in fact a synthetic methamphetamine derivative, also known as; Meth, Crystal, or Glass. MDMA has many street names which include: XTC, Go, Ecstasy, Disco Biscuit, Cristal, X, Adam, Bean, E, M, Molly, and Roll. Ecstasy is widely used at events as dance club or "rave" parties, but is not exclusive to those events. It has been used at house parties, and in school environments. A "rave" is a large event that features what has been commonly referred to as “Dance” music with lights and special effects played by D.J.s who specialize in this form of music. Raves are held in everything from night clubs to abandoned buildings to fields. Ecstasy was first synthesized in 1912 by a German company, possibly to be used as an appetite suppressant or a weight-loss drug. However, it was never marketed due to the unusual side effects of the drug. Ecstasy produces both stimulant and psychedelic effects, enabling those who take the drug to remain active for longer periods of time with less fatigue. This, in fact, is why Ecstasy is seen as a drug of choice at such events as dance raves, and other all-night activities. There is a strong misperception that use of Ecstasy is safe unless...
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...Drugs: Ecstasy and Marijuana Isabelle Balderas San Jose State University Ecstasy has been abused in many different ways since its inception in the 1970s. It was first used in guidance to help with psychotherapy, without evidence of supported research and FDA approval, until 1985 when the DEA classified ecstasy as a Schedule 1 Substance, which is a drug with a risk of excessive abuse and has no proof of being used medicinally (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2013). Ecstasy is taken orally and can either be in the form of a capsule or tablet. Origins of abuse of ecstasy are said to have been by young adults and teenagers at house parties in the Netherlands; furthermore, the popularity of the drug rose over time and eventually became a trend in the rave/all-night party scene. Today, young adults and adolescent teenagers mainly abuse ecstasy to have fun at nightclubs, raves, and/or rock concerts. It has been reported that 1.5% (roughly 3.4 million) of Americans at least the age of 12 have tried ecstasy at least once in their life; unfortunately, a considerable amount of abuse, 5% or 1.4 million people, was found in Americans between the ages of 18 and 25. Some people use ecstasy for therapeutic reasons, such as adrenergic uptake inhibitors, hallucinogens, and serotonin agents, to feel euphoric, empathetic, and an increase in energy (National Institutes of Health, 2008). Shockingly, others even combine ecstasy with other drugs to heighten the effects and make them last longer:...
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...Than Reality.' (herbal drug use)(Cover Story)." Newsweek 6 May 1996: 66+. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. John Leland’s article, ‘One Step Better than Reality (herbal drug use),’ tells about a young woman named Aniubis Castilla. She lives in Hialeah, California. Castilla enjoys dancing and going out to night clubs. She says that when she needed a “boost…she took the psychedelic drug MDMA,” otherwise known as ecstasy. Consequently, after taking a bad dose of ecstasy one night, she realized that the drug was just distracting her from her goals in life. Shortly after, she discovered a drug similar, but not near as dangerous, called herbal sex ecstasy. Castilla describes the drug as ‘one step better than reality.’ She says that herbal ecstasy is much healthier and safer than its rivals: cloud 9, ultimate xphoria and x. All of these are known as ‘Rave Energy,’ and have flourished in clubs and throughout teenagers and adults in the United States. Leland says that the herbal drug hit at a ‘ripe’ moment, emerging in an expanding drug culture. Other drugs such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine came about in the 90s, followed by herbal drugs about a decade later. But unlike other drugs, Leland says that “herbal’s play both sides, selling the promise of psychedelic euphoria while actually delivering just a mild, caffeine like boost.” Leland concludes his article by stating that overall, herbal drugs are safer than pure MDMA ecstasy, but it is still unhealthy...
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...Causes of Ecstasy Addiction Ecstasy in its purest form is not considered physically addictive in the ‘traditional’ sense. However, ecstasy does affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, which can lead to a chemical imbalance that helps fuel addiction. Ecstasy acts on brain chemicals, known as “neurotransmitters,” that control and balance mood. One important neurotransmitter that ecstasy acts upon is serotonin, responsible for feelings of happiness, calm, and relaxation. Ecstasy floods the brain with serotonin, expending the brain’s serotonin levels, and leaving the person experiencing a deficit of this important neurotransmitter once the drug exits the system. With repeated use, the brain detects the overabundance of serotonin and scales back natural production. Though this effect may only continue for a few days, users with weekly or more frequent use often experience withdrawal-induced depression. This effect, in combination with the intense “euphoric” feeling ecstasy produces and the ecstasy high’s impact on the brain’s reward centers can all combine to create a psychological addiction. Also, many ecstasy pills are not pure MDMA ecstasy’s active ingredient contain cheaper substances, such as speed (amphetamines). Chemical filler drugs may have their own physical addictiveness and can add to ecstasy addiction when used in high doses (often due to heightened tolerance) and high frequency use. Physical signs of ecstasy addiction are dilated pupils, high body temperatures, excessive...
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...stimulant. As my last choice, I've chosen Ecstasy. After I compare the aforementioned substances, I will give a theoretical explanation for why an individual would choose to use one or more of these drugs. Let begin with alcohol. It is classed as a depressant, meaning that it slows down vital functions—resulting in slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perceptions and an inability to react quickly. As for how it affects the mind, it is best understood as a drug that reduces a person’s ability to think rationally and distorts his or her judgment. Alcohol overdose causes even more severe depressant effects like: the inability to feel pain, toxicity where the body vomits the poison, unconsciousness, coma, or death from severe toxic overdose. These reactions depend on how much is consumed and how quickly. There are different kinds of alcohol. Ethyl alcohol, ethanol, the only alcohol used in beverages, is produced by the fermentation of grains and fruits. Fermenting is a chemical process whereby yeast acts upon certain ingredients in the food, creating alcohol. Fermented drinks, such as beer and wine, contain from two percent alcohol to twenty percent alcohol. Distilled drinks, or liquor, contain from forty percent to fifty percent or more alcohol. Today, an estimated fifteen million Americans suffer from alcoholism. Next up is the stimulant, Cocaine. Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs known to man. Once a person begins taking the drug, it has proven almost impossible to...
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...How do Drugs and Alcohol Affect You Sarah Tate Kaplan University-Omaha CJ411 Drugs and Alcohol May 15, 2012 Kerry Neumann Drugs and alcohol can cause short and long term damage to the human body. People that abuse drugs and alcohol may not be aware of the damage they are doing to their bodies. There are also psychological effects that drugs and alcohol can do to the human mind. These psychological effects can and may be permanent depending on the drug used and prolonged use of drugs and alcohol. Here we will concentrate on alcohol, amphetamines, and ecstasy. These vary in type of drug, addiction potential, and damage they can cause to the body and mind. Alcohol is a depressant and considered to mildly addictive. If abused for a prolonged period of time alcohol can become more addictive and the user may actually need the alcohol to function in life. Alcohol abuse may cause damage to the human body with prolonged use and abuse. Some of the damage alcohol may cause includes “slurred speech, lack of coordination, unsteady gait, memory impairment, and stupor, as well as behavioral changes shortly after alcohol ingestion, including aggressive behavior, mood volatility, impaired functioning”,(Roberts, P.,p.4-5.,n.d.). Alcohol consumption over a prolonged period of time may also cause psychological addiction, this happens over a period of time, not overnight, with continued drinking. Alcohol consumption over a prolonged period of time can cause liver damage, known as cirrhosis...
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...Compare and Contrast how Cocaine, Ecstasy, Heroin and Cannabis Work in the Brain Drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and cannabis, are of natural or synthetic origin, which can alter the emotional state, perception, body functioning and behaviour of an individual. Drugs are known to work in the brain by activating certain brain circuits via different mechanisms, and stimulate or inhibit different neurons in the pathway. However, due to the effects of each drug being different, a drug will affect either different pathways and neurons in the brain to that of another, or through a different process, i.e. direct or indirect activity. This essay will discuss the different mechanisms of action that cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and cannabis have in the brain, in terms of their similarities and dissimilarities. Recent studies are also discussed in relation to such theories, with findings of research having been derived from both humans and animals. Ecstasy and cocaine are psychostimulants that temporarily increase alertness and awareness. They both act as ‘indirect agonists’, which increase neurotransmitter binding to receptors in the synapse. By binding to the transporters that normally remove the excess of these neurotransmitters from the synaptic gap, ecstasy and cocaine prevent them from being reabsorbed by the neurons that released them, and therefore increase their concentration in the synapses. Changes in the activity of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline neurotransmitters...
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...Abstract Raves have historically referred to grass-roots organized, anti-establishment and unlicensed all night dance parties, featuring electronically-produced dance music (EDM), such as techno, house, trance and drum and bass. Since their late 1980s origins in the U.K., raves have gained widespread popularity and transformed dramatically. Consequently, their many cultural traits and behaviors have garnered much sociological interest, which mostly falls into two competing perspectives: cultural studies and public health. In this paper, we review what raves look like today compared to their high point in the 1990s. We then discuss how the cultural studies and public health perspectives define raves and have studied them over time, focusing on the “pet” sociological concepts each has sought to advance. Our analysis of these literatures reveals important differences in rave research by country and over time. We end by discussing the politics associated with the shift in rave research. Introduction Society has been greatly influenced by many alternative scenes, subcultures, or lifestyles oriented around music, youth and young adults (Epstein 1998). Some of the more notable ones include the English punk scene in the 1970s- 1980s, the U.S. jazz (1930s-1940s) and hippie scenes (1970s), and the 1990s rave scenes in the U.K. and U.S. From them have come musical innovation, social identity, fashion and other aesthetic nuances, and mainstream and alternative cultural production...
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...Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) addictions. MDMA has a target population of young adults, more specifically college students. The drug has been used to distort perception and create a euphoric sensation among users. MDMA was not created for recreational usage, but to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). Through MDMA’s growing popularity referenced in social media as “Molly” the clinical intention has been depleted. Introduction Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been highly influential on society throughout the course of time. The drug has served multiple purposes such as a psychotherapeutic treatment and recreational usage. MDMA provides a euphoric experience for participants, heightening their emotional status at the time of ingestion. MDMA has become extremely potent and easily accessible to youth and young adults. This once military based substance has become a mainstream party drug. Many refer to MDMA as “Molly” or “Ecstasy”. The drug appears as a powdered substance withheld in a capsule or tablet. Most individuals administer the drug orally. Due to popularity in social media, MDMA’s use among young adults has increased. History MDMA was first introduced and produced by Merck in 1912, a manufacturer and pharmaceutical corporation (Bouso, Doblin, Farré, Alcázar & Gómez-Jarabo, 2008).Merck distributed MDMA as a haemostatic drug, decreasing the amount of blood stream within blood vessels (Bouso et. al, 2008). MDMA originated in multiple forms of safrole...
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...Ecstasy has an impact on an individual’s sensations and behaviours through altering the brain’s chemical balance; the serotonin levels in the brain are increased through altering the reuptake process (Efrain, 2001). When ecstasy—or MDMA (the main psychoactive component of ecstasy)—is introduced to the system, it transforms the natural process of serotonin re uptake that would normally be occurring causing there to be an unnaturally high level of serotonin in the system (Sprague et al 1998). This increase in serotonin is thought to be the cause of many of the effects of ecstasy. This essay will firstly support the view that serotonin is the cause of many of the effects of ecstasy but will then go on to discuss how other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and neuroepherine and hormones are also responsible for some of the effects of ecstasy whilst still maintaining the argument that although other neurotransmitters have certain effects serotonin has the most prominent role in the effects of ecstasy. Although the use of ecstasy may feel psychologically euphoric for the user, the impact on the body is far less positive and can achieve detrimental levels (Sprague et al1998). Previous studies have shown that users who use MDMA for prolonged periods or who use it heavily are more likely to reduce the overall number of serotonin transporters (SERT) that remain capable of bringing the neurotransmitter back to the neuron after it is released (Simon et al, 2002)—this creates a damage...
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...Ecstasy (MDMA) Ecstasy or MDMA was developed in Germany in the early 1990s. In the United States in the 1970s some psychiatrists began using it as a psycho therapeutic tool, though they ignored that it was never approved by the FDA. In the late 2000 the FDA approved a small trial of MDMA to be tested. Some psychiatrists called it the “penicillin for the soul.” In 1985 the United States Drug Enforcement Administration banned the drug. A lot of psychiatrists and therapists in the 1970s and 1980s believed its psychedelic way of effecting the brain made it easier for patients to deal with their problems. Ecstasy is usually taken orally or in a tablet form. A normal dose of ecstasy is 100-125 mg. MDMA can affect the brain by affecting the chemical messengers we have which make never cells in the brain able to communicate with one another. Tests on animals prove that it can cause very high damage to your nervous system, it also raises the bodies temperature. Many MDMA users experience what the drug does in just an hour or so. These symptoms include: mental stimulation, emotional warmth, empathy towards other people, a general state of well being, and a decreased feeling of anxiety. It cost a little as .25 or .50 cents to manufacture it in Europe, but it is selling on the streets for $40.00. One tablet can cost as much as $30.00. Some long term and short term effects of “Adam”, which is a street name for MDMA. Some effects can be anxiety and paranoia, chills or sweating, teeth chattering...
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...Janaki Patel Club Drugs Club drugs are becoming more abundant in society nowadays and readily available almost everywhere you go whether it is on the streets of a hustling bustling city like New York, a suburb like Princeton, or schools like Harvard. Not just club drugs, but all kinds of drugs are readily available, but right now club drugs are on the rise statistically. A recent survey shows approximately “37.1% of 12th graders, 24.8% of 10th graders, and 12% of 8th graders reported that MDMA was "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain” (Drug Free Website). Clearly it is evident that these club drugs are easy to obtain by the average American teenager. So what are club drugs? Club drugs are drugs used at parties, raves, clubs, and discos to maximize their clubbing experience. These drugs help acquire the euphoric feeling by releasing a chemical in the brain called serotonin which makes you feel good. The most common type of club drugs are ecstasy, GHB, Rohypnol, and LSD. In addition to these drugs, there are many more part of the category of club drugs. However, sexual predators can misuse a couple of these drugs as the date rape drug. All these drugs have different effects on everyone. The attractiveness of these drugs have also gone up because of their uses and how increasingly readily available they are. The most common of the club drugs is ecstasy also knows as MDMA. MDMA stands for Methylenedioxymethamphetamine...
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...decide to go away for the weekend, which leaves the house free for Thomas’ birthday party. Thomas has many reservations about the party but allows it thinking that the girl he likes will show up. After many invitations are extended people begin to arrive. Things go from a controlled environment to absolute chaos, with the use of sex, drugs, and alcohol. In this paper I will discuss the movie as well as its relation to drugs and alcohol have with Biology. Costa invites people over to Thomas’ to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. They have their friend Dax film it all. Costa believes that for the party they need alcohol and marijuana, so they have to find it and pick it up. While picking up the marijuana they steal a garden gnome from the dealer’s house not realizing what was inside. Back at the house people started to arrive and what begins as a small get together, quickly turns into a large gathering. All the kids are drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and partying; when one of them decides to try and hit to garden gnome with a baseball bat. As he tosses it in the air he swings and smashes it into smithereens, sending hundreds of ecstasy pills through the air. Partiers dive to grab them, and from there things go from bad to worse. Even Thomas as reserved as he is takes a pill and begins to let lose and party with all of the guests. Thomas begins to sweat and the room seems to be spinning, he gathers his bearings for the ride ahead of him. He finally talks to his...
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...The Effect of Modern Drugs on Today’s Youth Children and the Law Seminar It’s nearing finals time and students across campus are beginning to feel the anxiety with exams over the horizon. While many students hit the books to quash this feeling, others search for something more. Whispers soliciting a need for Adderall resonate throughout the halls. These students don’t have prescriptions for their drug of choice, but this doesn’t deter them. They know that the risk in purchasing and ingesting this “study buddy” is far outweighed by the extreme focus and potentially high exam scores it may bring. It’s not that these students are ignorant of the law; it is quite the contrary. These situations are now so commonplace that today’s youth perceives the law to be a technicality in their search to find a means to an end. This pervading attitude should come as no surprise to most adults. For as long as human history has been recorded, drugs have defined and reflected the attitudes of their era. In the 1920’s, alcohol was placed under prohibition and Americans were looking to every which way to circumvent this federal regulation. In the 1930’s, reefer madness swept the country and marijuana was criminalized. The 1960’s marked the era of a rising counter-culture fueled by the psychedelic drug LSD. Even the cocaine boom of the 1970’s and 1980’s define a period of American history marked by high crime rates and an evolving nightlife. Today’s society is no different. In many ways, people...
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