MDMA
Ecstasy
What is MDMA?
MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. MDMA has both stimulant and psychedelic properties.
MDMA was first synthesized by a German company in 1912, possibly to be used as an appetite suppressant. MDMA has been available as a street drug since the 1980s. Its use has escalated in the 1990s among college students and young adults and is most often distributed at late-night parties called "raves", nightclubs, and rock concerts. As the rave and club scene expands to metropolitan and suburban areas across the country, MDMA use and distribution are increasing as well. MDMA is frequently used in combination with other drugs. However, it is rarely consumed with alcohol, as alcohol is believed to diminish its effects.
