When asked what she knows about the drug Ecstasy, 16-year-old Jacqueline, of Clifton, NJ , replied, “I heard it’s a drug that teens sometimes use to make them feel good, and it can be found in clubs.”

Photo courtesy of Partnership Ecstasy: "Love Drug"

Jacqueline is correct.

Ecstasy, scientifically known as MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), is a powerful illegal drug that teens use to get high. “E,” as it is sometimes called, is a stimulant that usually comes in pill form, but is also available as a powder that can be snorted.

The drug has many nicknames, including “XTC,” “X,” “E,” “Adam,” “Bean,” “Love Drug,” and “Hug Drug.” These last two—“Love Drug” and “Hug Drug”—are because of Ecstasy’s affect on the users’ sense of touch and sensuality. 

Sixteen-year-old Jonathan, of Wayne, NJ , heard that Ecstasy “makes people want to touch each other and rub up against each other.”

This is true. Two common side effects of the drug are loss of inhibitions and unusual displays of affection, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, in New York City . And because of this heightened sense of touch, some teen users may become more sexually active or take more risks with their sexual health than if they were drug-free.

Rush for More

Ecstasy is the kind of drug that makes users repeatedly, yet unsuccessfully, attempt to regain the feeling of the first high, which is the most enjoyable and intense. When used repeatedly, Ecstasy ultimately may damage brain cells that produce serotonin, which regulates mood, learning, and memory.

Additional common side effects can include involuntary teeth clenching, loss of inhibitions, nausea, blurred vision, and chills or sweating. Ecstasy can also cause sleep problems, anxiety and depression, seizures and strokes, and even lead to liver and cardiovascular failure, according to the Partnership.

As dangerous as the use of “X” may be on its own, it becomes even more damaging when mixed with other drugs or alcohol, according to Howard Simon, deputy director of public affairs for Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

“Anytime a drug is mixed with other drugs or alcohol, there is a heightened risk of problems,” says Simon.

While teen use of Ecstasy increased by 71 percent between 1999 and 2001, today the rate has slowly started to decrease, according to Simon. Currently, 11 percent of teens say they have experimented with the drug.

“It can be very expensive,” adds Simon, “one dose, one pill, of Ecstasy can cost $20 to $40 dollars, even though it costs only a few pennies to make.”

Although costly, Ecstasy is relatively easy to find. According to Simon, 22 percent of 7th through 12th graders say they can easily obtain Ecstasy in spite of it being illegal. “E" can be found almost anywhere, including schools, parties, or on street corners.

Rave Effect

Sometimes Ecstasy users are found at “raves,” all-night dance parties that play techno music and have elaborate laser light shows. Raves attract Ecstasy users because the drug provides the feeling of unlimited energy, which allows users to dance tirelessly at all-night parties. Those using Ecstasy at raves may use glow sticks to heighten their hallucinations or pacifiers to stop their teeth from chattering and grinding, a side effect of the drug. 

Some teens smuggle Ecstasy into parties. Simon explains that they may “string the brightly colored tablets on “candy necklaces’ or put them in M&M’s or Smarties bags.”

While teens, including Juliette, 16, of North Caldwell, NJ , believe that “Ecstasy is most commonly found at raves,” many attend raves simply to enjoy the music and socialize with friends. Still, it is the unsupervised and casual setting, the accessibility of drugs, and the party atmosphere that make the use of drugs so seductive. 

Need for Escape 

So, why do teens use Ecstasy? Many take it to ease feelings of depression, escape from their problems, or gain popularity or respect from their peers. Some use Ecstasy because they feel it is “safer” than drugs such as heroin and cocaine, and because they believe that Ecstasy is not addictive. 

Simon explains that Ecstasy does not cause a physical addiction. 

“A person’s body does not crave it. But there can be psychological addictions to the drug. Once someone thinks that they need it, then they’re addicted. It is a very dangerous drug and there is no way of knowing which dose will kill you.” 

Simon closes by saying, “Ecstasy is far from harmless; it promises [the feeling of] love, but keep in mind: is it really worth playing Russian roulette with yourself?”

Editors’ Note: For more information check out www.drugfreeamerica.org.