Ecstacy
(Known as E, pills, adams, doves, beans, MDMA, disco biscuits)
What is it?
Ecstasy is the common name for a pill, tablet, capsule or sometimes a powder which contains Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA for short!
It is an illegal, Class A substance, and can cost anything from £3 to £8. It is sometimes taken by clubbers on a night out, by party-goers, or by small groups of friends.
Effects
These will vary from person to person, but there are usually three stages to the Ecstasy experience:
- ‘Coming up‘, or ‘The Rush’: this usually lasts for about 5 to 20 minutes, and can include a faster heart rate, a raised temperature, and sometimes you might feel a bit sick, or even vomit. Some people find this quite uncomfortable, but it sometimes helps to take slow, regular breaths (breathing quickly can make you feel worse).
- Levelling out, or ‘The Plateau’ will usually last for 4 to 6 hours. Ecstasy is a stimulant drug, so it will make you feel full of energy. It is also mildly hallucinogenic, so you may sometimes find it difficult to focus on things, and you may experience changes in shapes and colours. E releases a chemical in your brain called serotonin. This controls your mood, and can make everyone around you seem really interesting and wonderful – even people you’ve never met before! It also increases your appreciation of music, and users may feel tempted to dance for long periods of time. As explained in ‘Being Safer’, this can be one of the dangers with taking ecstasy, so it’s important to take regular breaks.
- Coming down: as with all stimulant drugs, there will be a period of coming down from the high you’ve experienced, and this can feel a bit miserable. Often, people find it difficult to sleep after taking ecstasy, and this can add to the low. Some users have reported feeling depressed and anxious up to a week after taking E, and it is thought that this is caused by a depletion of serotonin levels in the brian. Also, ecstasy can make things seem better than they are, so when you’ve come down, reality can seem a bit disappointing.
The Risks
- MDMA, like any other stimulant drug, raises the user’s body temperature. When combined with strenuous activity (such as dancing for a long time), this can cause a serious illness called heat stroke.
- Dancing for too long can use up your body’s energy reserves, and lack of sleep can also contribute to exhaustion & a feeling of being run down.
- There’s no way of telling whether the pill you’ve just bought is actually Ecstasy. Even if it looks the same as one you’ve had previously, it may contain completely different chemicals.
Being Safer
If you choose to take Ecstasy:
- Make sure you’re with people you trust & in a place you feel comfortable. Night clubs can be quite hectic, hot places & may not be the ideal place to try it for the first time.
- Taking a half rather than a whole pill will reduce the chance of having an unpleasant experience. It could take over an hour to take effect – so wait before you consider having any more.
- Have regular breaks from dancing. E raises your body temperature, so it’s important to stop and chill out regularly. If you have been dancing a lot, it’s advisable to sip about a pint of water or soft drink every hour. Drinking too much water can be dangerous.
- If you feel ill, it’s a good plan to ask one of your friends to sit down with you for a while.
- If you’re with someone who’s passed out or feels really ill after taking E, don’t be afraid to phone an ambulance.
The Law
Ecstasy is a Class A drug. This means it carries very harsh penalties if you’re caught in possession, and the penalties for supplying or dealing are even harsher. Having more than one pill in your possession could be seen as ‘intent to supply’, and giving a pill you your friend will be seen as supplying.