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Ecstasy
What it is
A man-made drug that comes in tablet or capsule form. It is illegally manufactured in this country and imported from other European countries and sometimes from further afield. The chemical name is MDMA.
Street names
Names include E and XTC but also many others, which depend on the colour of capsules or shape, colour or pictures on tablets.
How it is taken
Swallowed as a capsule or tablet.
Extent of use
Some people have suggested that half a million people use ecstasy every weekend in the UK. Surveys of 16 year olds show up to 7% having claimed to have used it at least once. For 16 plus, the figures tend to be between 9% and 13%, with one word survey giving a figure of 1 in 5 18 year olds. It is usually used by young people aged 16 and over at clubs. Most will only use occasionally although some may have a period of using every weekend.
Effects of use
- It is a stimulant (energy giving) drug with mild hallucinatory (mind altering) effects.
- Effects of a moderate dose start after 20 to 60 minutes and last a few hours.
- After an initial 'rush' feeling, users usually feel energetic but very calm.
- Loss of anger and a feeling of being connected to other people are common.
- Some users report a greater awareness of their surroundings, music and other people.
- Some users have unpleasant experiences including feeling very anxious or confused and being affected by unpleasant distortion of sight and sound. This is more common with high doses or where users are already feeling anxious.
- After taking it users often feel very tired and low and need to rest to feel OK again.
Risks of use
- Users may become very anxious and disorientated especially if they already feel panicky and/or take a large dose.
- Users may experience blurred vision, dizziness, feeling sick, headaches and stomach ache. Sometimes people pass out.
- It may difficult to know what is being taken or how much. Pills may contain no ecstasy, varying amounts, other drugs and other non-drug substances.
- Some people say ecstasy use can promote unsafe sex. Other people say it does not.
- There have been over 1000 deaths associated with ecstasy use in the UK since 1989. Few were because of the direct effects of the drug.
- Most deaths have been from overheating and dehydration after users have danced non-stop in hot, crowded clubs. Taking a break from dancing, cooling down and drinking water regularly, to replace that loss by sweating, can reduce the possibility of this happening.
- Drinking too much water in one go can itself be dangerous and has been associated with a least one death.
- There have been other cases of people going into a coma or dying after taking ecstasy. This may be because some people already have heart problems, mix ecstasy with use of other drugs or it may be related to the fact strength of the tablets can vary greatly and have other drugs mixed in with them.
- Use, and especially regular use, can lead to sleep problems, lack of energy, dietary problems (including anorexia) and feeling depressed. It may also lead to having lots of colds, flu and sore throats.
- Regular users may find a tolerance develops and find they need to take increasing amounts to get the desired effects.
- Some people become psychologically dependent and begin to live for the ecstasy/club experience.
- There are concerns about the possible impact of taking ecstasy on a regular basis. This includes the possibility of mental health problems like depression as well as liver damage and, in women, irregular periods.
The law
It is an offence to be in the possession of ecstasy or to supply it to other people. It is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
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