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 EcstasyIs it really the "safe drug" people say it is? Why talk about Ecstasy?On December first, Nicole Malik was hanging out at an Internet café in Toronto. She had taken ecstasy some time that night. In the early morning, Nicole collapsed on one of the couches in the café. By the time a patron noticed her and called an ambulance, it was too late. Nicole had died. The coroner's test results haven't come back yet, but police believe Nicole Malik died from effects caused by Ecstasy. This is one of many cases where a teenager has died shortly after taking Ecstasy. Many people believe Ecstasy is a "safe drug". Because teens think it's safe, more and more are choosing to use Ecstasy. They think that as long as they're careful and follow their friends' advice, they won't get into trouble. But deaths and clinical research is proving that Ecstasy isn't as safe as we may think it is. Ecstasy has some serious side effects that could cause some long-term damage to our bods. What is Ecstasy?The scientific name for Ecstasy is methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. On the street it's sometimes called E, "the love drug", XTC, Adam, Euphoria, X, Love Doves, Clarity E-bombs, Misubishi Turbo, Rolls and the Hug Drug. Ecstasy is a psychoactive drug. Psychoactive drugs affect our minds, such as the way we think, and our behaviour. People who have taken Ecstasy are energetic, happy and loving until the drug wears off. Most often, people take Ecstasy in tablet or gel cap form. The tablets usually have cute logos on them, such as smiley faces. Ecstasy can also be snorted in powder form or inserted up a person's butt. A hit of Ecstasy usually costs between $20 and $40. But, each tablet only costs a few cents to manufacture. Where did Ecstasy come from?A drug company in Germany made the first batch of MDMA in 1914. The plan was to use it as an appetite suppressant. But therapists thought the drug could help their patients open up about their feelings. So, therapists started testing it out on patients. In the mid 1980s, young people in Europe were attending "acid house" parties. These were all-night dance parties. Some people who heard about the effects of Ecstasy realized that the drug would give them energy and the good mood they would need to party all night. They started bringing Ecstasy to "acid house" parties. By the time authorities realized that Ecstasy was being used for non-medical purposes, it was too late. In the late 80s and early 90s, the "acid house" culture became the rave scene in the United States and Canada. With it, came Ecstasy. Ecstasy is now the most popular designer drug in Canada. It's no longer just at raves. People use Ecstasy at school, in homes, on the streets, and anywhere else they want to get high. Today there's no legal medical use for Ecstasy. Because there's little proof that it helps in therapy and because research says Ecstasy can cause more harm than good, authorities have made Ecstasy illegal. It's illegal to make Ecstasy, sell it, or possess it in Canada. Why is Ecstasy so popular?The main reason people use Ecstasy is because of the way it makes them feel. Our brains contain a chemical called serotonin. The amount of serotonin in our brains determines how happy we are. People who suffer from mental depression have low levels of serotonin. After someone takes Ecstasy, the drug tells our brains to release more serotonin. So, the user ends up feeling very happy. Ecstasy is also part stimulant. Stimulants speed up our bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. They make us feel like we have a lot of energy. Some people use Ecstasy so they'll have the stamina to dance for hours without having to stop. The stimulant part of Ecstasy makes users feel "tingly" all over and makes them very sensitive to touch and sight. Most times, people who are rolling on Ecstasy will want to touch and hug other people. Other users watch lights and other sights in amazement. The most common term to describe the feelings from Ecstasy use is "euphoria." The other reason Ecstasy is so popular is because people believe it's a safe drug. Ecstasy manufacturers put cute labels or logos on their pills to make them appealing and to try to convince us that we're not taking something dangerous. After all, how could a pill with a cute smiley face on it be bad? Many users don't think Ecstasy is like other illegal drugs, such as cocaine. They believe Ecstasy isn't addictive and using it can't get us into any real trouble. |
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 original air date: April 22, 2002 Back: to Episode 14 The effects of taking EcstasyPreferred effects
(People can feel these symptoms for days, or weeks after taking Ecstasy.)
Ecstasy & dehydrationOne risk of taking Ecstasy is that it causes high body temperatures which can lead to dehydration. Here are the warning signs of dehydration:
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