Ecstasy/MDMA acts as both a stimulant and hallucinogen, producing an energizing effect, distortions in time and perception, and enhanced enjoyment of tactile experiences.

Adolescents and young adults use it to reduce inhibitions and to promote:

• Euphoria, feelings of closeness, empathy, and sexuality

Known as a party drug, ecstasy comes in pill or powder form; pill has a variety of logos and colors.

Adam, Beans, Biscuit, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, MDMA, Peace, STP, X, XTC

Swallowing gel capsules (Molly), pills, tablets. Powder, Crystal, liquid. Crushed or snorted. Occasionally smoked.

Increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, tremors, teeth clenching, nausea, sweating, euphoria, empathy, reduced inhibition, chills, blurred vision, confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, severe dehydration, sleep problems, and drug craving.

In high doses, MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. On occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in liver, kidney, or cardiovascular system failure, swelling of the brain, and even death. Furthermore, repeated use of MDMA over a short period of time may lead to potentially harmful concentrations of MDMA within the body due to the complex metabolism of MDMA.

What does MDMA look like?

MDMA is commonly found in tablet or capsule form but can also be a powder or crystal. The pills come in different colours and sizes and often have a picture, symbol or logo. When sold in pill form, two pills with the same logo or symbol may have different effects — they can come from different sources and have different ingredients.

MDMA, dehydration and overheating

MDMA is taken by some people at festivals, parties, and nightclubs. In these environments, people using MDMA are likely to engage in dancing, which in combination with MDMA can raise body temperature to a dangerous level.⁶

It is important people take regular breaks to cool down and drink around 250-500ml of water per hour.

Drinking too much water while taking MDMA is dangerous. Deaths have occurred from dilutional hyponatremia — this is a condition where a person’s brain swells from drinking too much water and can lead to coma.

Impact of mood and environment

Drugs that affect a person’s mental state (psychoactive drugs) can also have varied effects depending on a person’s mood (often called the ‘set’) or the environment they are in (the ‘setting’):

• Set: a person’s state of mind, previous encounters with psychedelic drugs, and expectations of what’s going to happen. For example, feelings of stress or anxiety before using MDMA may result in an unpleasant experience.⁷
• Setting: the environment in which someone consumes MDMA – whether it’s known and familiar, who they’re with, if they’re indoors or outdoors, the type of music and light. For example, using MDMA in a calm, quiet and relaxed environment can lead to, or contribute to, a pleasant experience but being in a noisy, crowded place may result in a negative experience.⁷
• Being in a good state of mind, with trusted friends and a safe environment before taking MDMA reduces the risk of having an unpleasant experience.

oming down

In the days after MDMA use, you may experience:

• restless sleep and exhaustion
• anxiety, irritability and depression
• paranoia (feeling extremely suspicious and frightened)
• difficulty concentrating.^2-5

The use of depressant drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines or cannabis to help with these ‘come down’ effects, may result in dependence on both types of drugs.

Mixing MDMA with other drugs

The effects of taking MDMA with other drugs − including over-the-counter or prescribed medications − can be unpredictable and dangerous:

MDMA + alcohol: increased risk of dehydration and consequently drinking too much water.⁸

MDMA + ice, speed or cocaine: increased risk of anxiety and reduced brain functioning due to dopamine depletion. Enormous strain on the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body, which can lead to stroke.^9,10

MDMA + antidepressants: Drowsiness, clumsiness, restlessness and feeling drunk and dizzy.