Ecstasy+and+Teens

=**WHAT IS ECSTASY? **=

Ecstasy is a designer drug that acts as both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. 

 Ecstasy is usually found as a 400 mg tablet, only 100 mg of which is its active ingredient 3,4 Methlenedioxy-methamphetamine or MDMA..

 MDMA is a derivative of amphetamine found in its pure form as a white crystaline powder.It is often used to provide a sense of well-being and unlimited energy. It is presently most widely used and distributed during raves-all night underground parties with techno music and extensive drug use frequently used by teens and college students. MDMA is also known as a "club drug." Despite its supposedly harmless effects, it is a schedule illegal drug whose use and distribution is prohibited in most countries including the United States.

 Ecstasy is a unique drug. It is used for its ability to change the nervous system in such a way to facilitate personal expression. This expression frees people to be themselves and feel happy about their lives. It is able to do this by changing the regulation of the serotonin system for a brief period of time. This alteration may or may not cause permanent brain damage with heavy usage. Human studies do not back up the brain damage claim- even in heavy users. In the usual occasional user, brain damage seems highly unlikely- especially since MDMA is not addictive and as soon as users experience negative effects, they can stop usage. The brain seems to know that the benefits outweigh the negative effects because it makes the decision to let the body take it.

Further human studies on the inhibition level of past Ecstasy users would be useful. If it is true that using the drug just a few times allows a person to positively change theirs attitudes toward relationships toward themselves permanently, this might be a result of the slight degeneration of the serotonin system. Maybe it is overly regulated in these users before they took the drug and that is why their brain wanted to take Ecstasy in the first place.