Ecstasy: Too Often a Fatal Trip

Ecstasy--an illegal drug often referred to as this decade’s version of LSD—is, according to some of its users "the hottest drug going now." It’s also one of the deadliest. While Ecstasy is most often associated with large open-to-the-public teen dance parties--or "raves"--federal officials say the drug also known as MDMA (and most commonly called "X" on the street) is so readily available that teens can easily buy it on the street or even on their school’s campus.

A recent survey of teens conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that one in four questioned said they had a friend or class mate whom they knew had used Ecstasy, and 17% said they knew more than one user.

Some of the slang terms for Ecstasy include:

• B-bombs
  
• Disco biscuit
  
• Essence
  
• Go
  
• Hug Drug
  
• Love drug
  
• Scooby snacks
• Sweeties
  
• Wheels
  
• "X"
  

"When somebody tells me they’ve taken Ecstasy these days, I have no idea what they’ve taken," says Dr. Grob, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. Grob, who conducted the first Food and Drug Administration-approved study of MDMA’s effects in the mid-90’s, says the growing furor surrounding the illegal use and abuse of the drug has overshadowed its potential as a legitimate, professionally monitored psychiatric treatment for such ailments as posttraumatic stress disorder.

Some of the Facts About Ecstasy

• When most people refer to Ecstasy they are usually referring to 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. Patented in Germany before World War I, MDMA was not tested on humans until the 70’s. Chemically, it’s structurally similar to both amphetamine and mescaline, a hallucinogen.
   
• In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Administration ordered that MDMA be classified as an illegal drug. However, that did little to stop its spread on the black market. By the mid-90’s, Ecstasy had become a popular "club drug" in Europe, the U.S., and other parts of the world.
   
• A dangerous trend has become pervasive and often proves fatal: In attempts to prolong the effects of the drug and enhance the "I love everyone" feelings, "stacking"--using multiple doses in one night--or combining Ecstasy with alcohol or other drugs is becoming increasingly widespread.
   
• Medical experts are also alarmed by commonly used impure forms of Ecstasy (laced with other drugs), as well as look-alike pills. Other critical concerns include the drug’s capacity to accelerate dehydration and overheating, which, especially at crowded dance clubs, has been the cause of death in some cases.
   
• If you or someone you care about is using Ecstasy, consider getting immediate and confidentialhelp from your doctor or local therapist. As tempting as this drug might be, there are lots of other healthier ways to feel euphorically "high on life"--ways that don’t risk killing you.