Basic Information and History

Ecstasy, also called MDMA, is a synthetic drug that changes a person's mood and awareness of the things around them. It is a stimulant as well as a hallucinogen. It is usually taken as a tablet, but it can be swallowed in a liquid form or snorted in a powder form. A common nickname for it is Molly and often refers to the "pure" form of MDMA. However, people often think that they are purchasing just MDMA or "pure" Ecstasy but in reality the pills are usually cut with other substances. These substances include cocaine, methamphetamine, cough medicine, bath salts, and more. These added substances add to the danger of taking Ecstasy.

In the 1970s a pharmacologist promoted MDMA as a product that would give patients insight to their problems and lessen their defensiveness. During this time ecstasy had not been tested or approved for human consumption. In the 1980s, Ecstasy use began to grow mostly in gay and urban communities. In the 1990s Ecstasy was used commonly in nightclubs and electronic music scenes. Ecstasy was banned in the United States in 1985 when it was tested and determined to be a schedule 1 drug. It was discovered to have no medical importance and could easily be abused.