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Street Names: (Beans, X, Adam)
Ecstasy is Methylene Dioxy Meth Amphetamine (MDMA). The street names for Ecstasy are X, Rolls, E, Adam, Beans, and Buddies. Ecstasy stays in the body varying amounts of time and can lead to dehydration and heatstroke. Users of Ecstasy are risking brain damage that remains long after the high has worn off, and often is irreparable. New research has concluded that a single dose of MDMA significantly damages brain cells called neurons that produce serotonin, which is a major neurotransmitter, that is thought to influence mood, appetite, sleep, and other important functions. Even after 12 to 18 months after damage by Ecstasy, serotonin-producing nerve fibers have regrown abnormally in some brain regions and failed to regrow at all in others. Ecstasy also has stimulant properties such as increased heart rate and blood pressure; dilates the pupils and bronchi; stimulates the brain, increases motor activity, makes the user more alert; tight jaw muscles, often users will grind their jaws together; overheating, sweating, and dehydration; mild hallucinogenic properties, like mescaline; enhances the senses with some perceptual changes, no major hallucinations, enhances tactile sensations. Ecstasy is usually taken orally in tablets (100-200 mg: 1.4 - 2.8 mg/kg per tablet), but can be snorted, smoked, or injected. Individuals usually experiment by "stacking" - taking three or more tablets at once; or by "piggy-backing" - taking a series of pills over a short period of time. Clubs and rave parties that advertise a "chill room" are catering towards ecstasy users. Tolerance does develop and can lead to overdosing. Most of the time, ecstasy is taken with other drugs found at rave parties, for example, GHB, marijuana, and Ketamine. Complications from Ecstasy include acute renal (kidney) failure, cardiovascular collapse, cerebral infarction (cell death due to local loss of circulation) or bleeding, depression, hepatic (liver) failure, hyponatremia (low sodium)(water intoxication), psychosis, respiratory failure, and rhabdomyolysis (degeneration of muscle proteins). Often ecstasy is followed by GHB consumption, referred to as "E sitting." Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), Ketamine, and PCP have been taken to minimize the undesirable effects of high dose consumption. GHB is taken to block the over-stimulation or overly wired feelings produced by ecstasy. GHB has shown anti-dopaminergic activity; dopamine activity produces the ecstasy-associated stimulation. The tablets are different shapes, but mainly round with different imprints on which include the Mitsubishi symbol, a fox, a camel, a star, many different automobile logos, Rolex logo, lightning bolt, dollar signs, and a myriad of stamps are used. There are over 600 different logos/markings for ecstasy to date. A derivative of ecstasy has been found with a light brown color and stamped with the Statue of Liberty logo. It has been field tested to contain MDMA and heroin and has a street name of "Space." Paraphernalia associated with ecstasy use include pacifiers, Blo-Pop suckers, Popsicle sticks, M&M candy, Skittles, Tootsie-Rolls, Candy Necklaces, Glo-Sticks, bottled water, dust or surgical masks, Vick's Vapo-Rub (smeared inside masks) and Vick's Vapo-Inhalers (inhaled, or blown into face and eyes by a partner). Ecstasy causes psychiatric disturbances - panic, anxiety, paranoia, depression, nausea, increased muscle tension, chills, sweating, tremors, blurred vision, circulatory problems, hyperthermia, electrolyte imbalance, tissue and organ failure, massive release of serotonin leading to potential destruction of these neurons, learning/memory problems, and tooth decay. The after-effects of ecstasy use are drowsiness, muscle aches (lower back, neck and joint pain), general fatigue, depression, difficulty in concentrating, paranoia, short-lived anxiety and irritability, acne/skin rash, frequent headaches, and frequent stomach cramps. Some ecstasy users have turned to illegal Prozac for relief of the depression and have even taken Ritalin in conjunction with ecstasy in order to help them concentrate more. Both combinations are dangerous. Studies have shown that tolerance can be built up for prolonged use.
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2CB and 2-CT-7
