Ecstasy

Ecstasy is commonly associated as a party drug which is taken to stay awake and dance for prolonged periods of time. It takes about half an hour for the drug to take effect, and can last for three to six hours. Positive effects include feeling an energy buzz, being in-tune with surroundings and being chatty. However user’s pupils can dilate, the jaw can tighten and they can often experience nausea, sweating, and a dry mouth and throat. Blood pressure and heart rate may also increase.

As the effects can take up to half an hour to start, some users double dose which can be dangerous. There is also the possibility of building up a tolerance, which may lead to taking more ecstasy to get the same effect. Bad experiences could include feeling anxious, confusion and a distortion of the senses. There are also longer-term side effects which can include damage to the brain. Evidence suggests this may cause depression, personality change and memory loss. Regular use can also affect sleep, a loss of energy and diet.

Alongside amphetamine, ecstasy is the most commonly used illicit drug in Europe. The drug was relatively unknown in the 1980s but became popular in the 1990s. According to a study by the EMCDDA, ecstasy has been tried by about 7.5% of the adult population in the UK and around 3% on average in the EU. According to both the 2003/04 and 2009/10 British Crime Survey the most common age at which ecstasy was first taken was 18 years old.

The amount of MDMA found in a tablet can vary and some tablets sold as ecstasy have been found to contain none at all, a mix of drugs, or different drugs all together. Globally the production of ecstasy in 2008 was estimated to be between 57 and 136 tonnes. Within the UK and Netherlands specifically in 2007 there was reported to be a combined seizure of 18.4 million tablets.

Ketamine is sometimes mixed with amphetamine or methamphetamines and falsely sold as ecstasy tablets in order to command a higher price.