MDMA's effects on the brain.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/MDMA/default.html

This is a great resource to find information about many drugs from effects on the brain to addiction treatment.

For those of you that don't know MDMA, ecstasy or 3,4-Methylendioxymethamphetamine is a DEA schedule 1 substance.  Schedule 1 means drugs under this category have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. It is classified as a psychoactive amphetamine, meaning it has both psychedelic and stimulant like effects. Known for its relationship with Intimacy, it also diminishes feelings of anxiety, fear, depression and emotions run wild. The positive effects include mental stimulation, emotional warmth, empathy towards others, and a general sense of wellbeing.

 Before being made a schedule 1 controlled substance, ecstasy was actually used in psychotherapy, couples therapy and to treat anxiety disorders as well as clinical depression. Though there were no formal, documented clinical trials or FDA approval.  Therapists called it "penicillin for the soul" saying it allowed the user to communicate insight about their problems.  Though DEA still deemed it schedule 1 eventually, in late 2000 FDA actually approved MDMA for 2 sessions of psychotherapy for those experiencing PTSD.  Ecstasy was actually criminalized in all members of the United Nations in a UN agreement; this is for manufacture, sale or production of the drug. There are limited exceptions for scientific/medical research.

MDMA first broke out in the club scene, mostly at long extended dance parties called raves. It was mostly used by adolescents and young adults, but this typical profile has been changing. There is now widespread use outside of the club scene. Recent research has also shown the drug is moving from predominately white users to minority users. It also appears to be a rising trend in the "urban gay male" scene. This is a rising concern because of the existing high level of sexual activity in gay males; it causes an increase in high risk behavior that may lead to many sexually transmitted diseases. The first question is why? Perhaps they seem to frequent urban dance clubs in higher numbers. Also, why the movement away from white adolescents and young adults?

Ecstasy has incredible effects on the brain with just one or two tablets. Though its mechanism of activity is not fully understood in its simplest sense it alters the activity of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine by increasing their production. Though the process involving serotonin is more complicated due to the fact that it is not only a combination serotonin reuptake inhibitor, but also a serotonin-releasing agent, in addition to the other two transmitters it makes MDMA a neorepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor and a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent. Confused yet?  

More specifically the effects of the drug cause all the previously mentioned positive effects of the drug. The excess release of the serotonin causes the brain to become depleted of this key transmitter. This is the largest contributor to the "hangover" effects that users can experience for several days after taking the drug. More research is needed, but it appears that this serotonin damage in humans can cause  long term effects such as confusion, depression, and significantly impact the memory and attention process.

So even with more research needed, the fact people still choose to do these drugs is very interesting to me. Some are ignorant, but others completely willing to take the risk despite their knowledge of the effects. The drug also can be addictive, the body can develop tolerance, and the brain changes to compensate for the difference in chemical production. Are people attracted to the emotional state they reach after doing the drug, or is it simply a chemical dependency?