OPPapers.com

What Are The Ultimate Effects Of Taking Ecstasy?

Hypothetically the only drug that should be in ecstasy is the compound MDMA. MDMA was first patented by a German chemical company which allegedly would use it as a diet pill. The company did not end up marketing the drug, and it wasn't until the 1950's that it was heard about again. That is when the US Army began experimenting with it as a truth serum. And between 1977 and 1985, therapists researched and tested the drug for use in psychotherapy sessions, to help the patients ‘open up' their minds. But in 1985 the drug was banned by the DEA. This, however, did not stop the drug from gaining its popularity among the public. The 90's saw a great boom of MDMA being used recreationally, mainly as a club/rave drug. A research study shows "that one in five teens in the area have been offered methamphetamine and nearly one in three have been offered Ecstasy" (quoted in "Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly").   And because of such a great demand ecstasy was and still is illegally manufactured and sold on the black market. Within the black market many substitute MDMA for its ‘cousins', MDA or MDE which give the same effect.
Though it has been debated in the past that MDMA (or ecstasy) is not a harmful drug, research and experimenting has shown that it can be damaging. The side effects of ecstasy can affect the user in immediate periods after use, as well as over long terms.

Without any prior knowledge of the drug, it is easy to come to conclusions with one immediate result. Since the drug is illegally made, there are no restrictions or regulations that manufacturers must follow. The reality of the matter is that manufacturers can put together any concoction of drugs they'd like, and you can never know. Dr. Selva, who is director of general pediatrics and adolescent medicine in the department of child health at the university in Colombia, MO put it well; "Adolescents need to know that taking Ecstasy is not like taking Tylenol, where you know that the only ingredient in the...