Discuss methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) and its popularity on the party scene and at raves.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) is a bitter white powder related to amphetamine and mescaline. It enjoys a high popularity among ravers and has now become a very common drug of abuse in the nightclub and party scene. The drug's popularity has grown at an alarming rate. Although it is difficult to say exactly how many people are experimenting with it, law enforcement officials consider ecstasy to be one of the most troubling illicit drugs because of its widespread use.
Many ecstasy users are drawn to the drug by its ability to reduce inhibitions, promote euphoria, produce light hallucinations, and suppress the need to eat or sleep. One pill's effects can last as long as 6 hours, but users build up a tolerance. An overdose can cause an accelerated heart rate, high blood pressure, aching muscle cramps, and panic attacks. According to many experts, ecstasy is psychologically addictive and can result in paranoia and psychosis.
The drug is manufactured to a large extent in laboratories in Belgium and the Netherlands. It can be created for as little as 50 cents, sold in the country of origin, and then smuggled into the United States, where it is sold for as much as $40 a pill. For the most part, Israeli organized-crime syndicates have been implicated as the main source of the drug's distribution in the United States. This so-called club drug has become increasingly popular among juveniles and is commonly used as a recreational drug at raves.