MDMA
![](images/mdma_summary1.jpg)
COMMON & BRAND NAMES
Ecstasy; E; X; XTC; Rolls; Beans; Adam; Molly
EFFECTS CLASSIFICATION
Euphoric Empathogen; Euphoric Stimulant; Entactogen; Phenethylamine
CHEMICAL NAME
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
DESCRIPTION
MDMA is one of the most popular recreational psychoactives, most commonly sold as "ecstasy" (usually tablets) or "molly" (usually crystals). It is known for its empathogenic, euphoric, and stimulant effects, and has also been used in psychotherapy.
CAUTION
Ecstasy tablets are notoriously impure, often containing chemicals other than MDMA.
See DrugsData.org for anonymous lab testing results.
GENERAL INFORMATION #
General Information: MDMA - 1980s Pamphlet
RELATED VAULTS #
PILL TESTING & ANALYSIS #
An inventory of on-site pill-testing interventions in the EU, EMCDDA - 2001
MDE Sold as MDMA (1994)
Dutch Ecstasy Analysis (1994)
HEALTH #
NEUROTOXICITY & HEALTH #
Claim that MDMA Causes Parkinson's - A Review
MDMA Neurotoxicity, by Baggott & Mendelson
Does Ecstasy cause memory deficits?, by Alex Gamma, Oct 2000 (Review)
MDMA Research Update, by Earth Erowid, 2001
ASK EROWID ANSWERS #
ARTICLES & WRITINGS #
Analytical Glimpses of "Molly" and Research Chemicals - by Erowid, 2013
E for Enlightenment - by Nicholas Saunders, 1994
Ecstasy in the UK - by Peter McDermott et al., 1993
California Report on MDMA - by Jerome Beck, 1987
An Interview with Andrew Weil - by Julie Holand, 2001 (Book Excerpt)
An Overview Essay about Ecstasy by a Highschool Student - Elliott, 2004
RESEARCH & JOURNAL ARTICLES #
The background and chemistry of MDMA, Shulgin, 1986
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES #
Recent changes in Europe's MDMA/ecstasy market - EMCDDA, Apr 2016
MEDIA COVERAGE #
FDA Approves Research into Medical Use of MDMA - Nov 2, 2001
Mad For It : Ecstasy Culture - The Guardian UK, Mar 1997
Press the Panic Button - New Scientist, Jan 1997
Better than Well - The Economist, Apr 1996
SYNTHESIS & EXTRACTIONS #
NON-ENGLISH RESOURCES #
EXPERIENCES #
Serotonergic Pain Relief, by Floyd F
Appropriate Bonding, by King of Suburbia
The Magic Crystal, by nervewing
Showed Me What Was Possible, by Bodylove
The Rave Rolling Was Definitely Positive, by Soma91
BOOKS #
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca - Richard Louis Miller, 2018
Ecstasy: The Complete Guide, by Julie Holland
E is for Ecstasy , by Nicholas Saunders (online version)
Ecstasy: Dance, Trance & Transformation, by Saunders & Doblin
Ecstasy: Its History and Lore, by Miriam Joseph
Ecstasy: The MDMA Story, by Bruce Eisner
OFF-SITE RESOURCES
SECONDARY RESOURCES #
MDMA - Wikipedia.org
MDMA - TripSit.me
MDMA - Drug Policy Alliance
This is your Brain on Ecstasy (neurochemical slideshow)
Ecstasy Reagent Test Database - Pillreports.net
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES #
British Advisory Council's 2009 MDMA Review (cache) - ACMD, 2008
Ecstasy: Wholesale, Purity and Street Prices - UNODC, 2007
LABORATORY PILL TESTING & ANALYSIS #
Laboratory Pill Testing Results - DrugsData.org
Inside the Deep Web Drug Lab - Backchannel, March 2015
Laboratory Testing Results ('95-'98) - Ecstasy.org (UK)
MDMA Analysis Project - MAPS, 1996
HEALTH #
FDA Approves Final Stage of MDMA Drug Trials - Reason, Nov 2016
Can a Single Pill Change Your Life? - Oprah Magazine, Feb 2011
RESEARCH & JOURNAL ARTICLES #
'Medical ecstasy' helping war veterans with PTSD - WMBF, Nov 2015
MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Could Come Into Play in 2021 - MixMag, Oct 2015
MEDIA COVERAGE #
Police accused of turning blind eye to ecstasy-related crime after drop in convictions - The Telegraph, Sep 2017
Why So Many More People in the UK Are Dying from Ecstasy Overdoses - Vice, Aug 2016
Ecstasy and MDMA is 'getting stronger' - BBC, May 2016
Psychedelic compounds like ecstasy may be good for more than just a high - C&EN, Mar 28 2016
Amsterdam under fire over liberal Ecstasy policy - NLTimes, Oct 2015
Is it right to take ecstasy in a TV trial? - The Guardian (UK), Sep 2012
Legalize pure ecstasy and sell it like alcohol, BC health chief says - National Post (Canada), June 2012
Cambodia: Ecstasy tabs destroying forest wilderness - The New Humanitarian, Jul 2008
Guess which drug is illegal? - SF Chronicle, Jan 2008
The Peace Drug - Washington Post, Nov 2007
Ecstasy really does unleash the love hormone - New Scientist, Apr 2007
Ecstasy may damage the brain's physical defences - New Scientist, Nov 2005
Treating Parkinson's - Chem and Engineering News, Aug 3 2005
Ecstasy can block cancer growth - BBC, May 2005
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES #
MDMA Fact Sheet - DEA
MDMA - NIDA
MDMA - NIDA for Teens
Ecstasy - Ask Frank [UK]
NON-ENGLISH RESOURCES #
Energy Control - Extasis (Spanish / Spain)
Échele Cabeza - Extasis (Spanish / Colombia)
Technoplus : Taz / MDMA (Français)