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E for Ecstasy
by Nicholas Saunders
[ Bibliography by Alexander Shulgin ]


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Own Experience
    What I feel it has done for me; how I have experimented with it and researched
  3. History of Ecstasy
    first invented and patented; tested by US army; re-discovered by Shulgin; used for psychotherapy; wildly popular available by credit card; alarm due to previous impure drug causing Parkinson's disease; banning in US against recommendation; media muddle; appeal overturned; rise of the rave in US, Europe and then back to US; permission to use in Switzerland; permission to use in US.
  4. What it Does and How it works
    Emotional effects: allowing the chi to flow, dissolving fear, allowing memories to surface, being temporarily free of neurosis, feeling love, removing defensiveness, allowing indulgence. Medical effects: effect on brain with fairly full explanation including diagrams to show how brain cells transfer info. Side effects such as blood pressure and temp rise. What organs get rid of it. Effects of combining E with other drugs. Sex.
  5. Who takes Ecstasy
    Own survey results, references to other surveys. How many people take E deduced from surveys and seizures. Welshpool and football supporters
  6. Dangers
    Reports of death here and in the US and why different. Overheating. Heart failure, strokes. Neurotoxicity: the research that caused the fears and the present assessment. Risk assessment compared to other activities as from my article. Who should avoid taking Ecstasy. Psychological dangers: what kind of people have been damaged by MDMA. Media overstatement.
  7. The law
  8. Ecstasy and the media
    Times article
  9. Psychotherapy in Switzerland
  10. Other uses of Ecstasy
    Used for opening up and having fun; slimming/keeping fit; dancing; problem solving; improving relationships; professional psychotherapy; amateur psychotherapy; as an alternative to psychotherapy; in rituals; in place of a quick holiday; for pain relief; for depression. . .
  11. Suggestions for first time users
    Ideal situation in town, in country. What to have with you and what to avoid. When to take it. Who to take with and who not to. Describe Set and Setting. How to be a guide.
  12. What Ecstasy is and where does it come from
    Tests for MDMA in the lab and at home. List of characteristics. What drugs are sold as MDMA and how to distinguish them. Are other drugs more toxic? Is MDMA cut with poisonous substances? Why it sometimes has a different effect. Production and distribution
  13. Discussion of establishment attitudes
  14. Conclusion
Appendix 1: Reference section
Summaries of reports I have read.
Appendix 2: Personal Accounts
A small selection of first-hand accounts of Ecstasy use. Both positive and negative experiences.
Appendix 3: Human rights and the use of drugs
An American viewpoint with part of Shulgin's Chapter 42, and a British viewpoint.
Appendix 4: Annotated bibliography
By Alexander T. Shulgin
Appendix 5: Research projects
under way at present.
Appendix 6: Directory of Organisations in the UK
which deal with Ecstasy users
Appendix 7: Glossary of terms

Publication Information

Published by Nicholas Saunders, 14 Neal's Yard, London, WC2H 9DP, UK.
ISBN: 0 9501628 8 4. Published May 1993. 320 pages.

The book E for Ecstasy is now only available in German and Italian, having been superceded by Ecstasy and the Dance Culture and Ecstasy, Dance, Trance and Transformation. Details of availability are on ecstasy.org

Copyright Nicholas Saunders and Alexander Shulgin 1994.

This material may be freely distributed electronically, but may be printed for personal use only. Permission is required for any other use of any of the contents. This will normally be given freely, provided prior permission is obtained and the source credited in an agreed form.