|
|
STREET NAMES
ECSTASY is known as the "designer drug" of the nineties. It is broadly known as "E" but has many
other names, including:
 XTC
doves
love
Adam and Eve
fido-didos
banana milkshake
yellow burger
pink Champagne
strawberry sundaes
Dennis the Menace
snowballs
apples
Superman
Domes
New Yorkers
|
HELP TO USERS:
We stress that the effects of ecstasy are unpredictable and can be fatal. Even so, as we know that some
people will take risks, here are some things to remember:
 REST - Users should try to sleep before going to a rave party and taking ecstasy. During the evening rests should be taken frequently - many clubs and rave parties have "chill out" rooms for this reason.
DRINK WATER - Ravers should drink about 2 cups of water or soft drinks every hour while dancing to prevent dehydration
TAKE ONLY ONE TABLET AT A TIME - To avoid developing tolerance, do not take 2 doses at a time and do not take ecstasy daily. Many people can rave all night on half a tablet.
DRUG COMBINATIONS CAN BE DEADLY - Do not take ecstasy with anything else. Alcohol masks the effects of ecstasy making it seem weak or different and could lead to the user taking an overdose without even knowing.
SOME PEOPLE ARE IN HIGH RISK GROUP - People with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart conditions, depression and psychosis should not take ecstasy since they are at a high risk of developing a negative reaction to it.
|
Ecstasy of "E" as it is widely known, is an amphetamine derivative with the scientific name of methylane
dioxymethamptamine (MDMA). It is a potent stimulant and mild hallucinogen.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Originally patented back in 1914 as an appetite suppressant, the drug was never licensed and was banned
in 1977 in the UK. Ecstasy is often sold at rave parties where techno and acid house music is
played continuously throughout the night.
THE EFFECTS OF ECSTASY
The FDA has learned of 15 people who died after taking (Herbal Ecstasy) ephedrine-containing supplements and has received almost 400 other reports of side effects, from heart attacks and seizures to psychosis.
The effects of ecstasy usually begin within about half an hour of swallowing the tablet (depending on whether the stomach is full or not).
The peak of a "high" lasts about 2-4 hours and the user feels ecstatic, joyful, exhilarated, mystic, loving and sensual (hence the name "the love drug"). Its hallucinatory effects heighten emotional and sensory experiences so that music, lights and dancing are more meaningful to the user.
It makes them feel energetic and enhances stamina, which enables them to dance all night without tiring (thus also known as the dance drug.)
At the same time the drug may cause a raised body temperature, high blood pressure, profuse sweating (possible dehydration), a racing pulse, decreased appetite and a dry mouth. It may also result in jaw clenching and teeth grinding (this is why users of this drug and other stimulants often chew gum).
The user may also be unsteady, have large pupils and blurred vision and sometimes muscle spasms. The drug unfortunately also reduces the user's awareness of the need to rest, eat and sleep. This has led to cases of collapse and heat stroke in "ravers".
Severe and often deadly consequences can arise. These effects can occur after a normal or excessive dose of ecstasy. These include: heat stroke, heart failure, brain haemorrhages, respiratory failure, strokes and paralysis, liver damage, generalized blood clotting and kidney failure. It can also cause fits, anxiety, paranoia, depression, delirium and coma. Many deaths have resulted from ecstasy use.
After the initial high lasting 4 hours, the user will begin to "come down". This can last up to 24 hours and in this time the user will still find eating and sleeping difficult. Although not extremely unpleasant this period of feeling "spaced out" has been called "E-Depression".
Some users may at this point take alcohol and/or cannabis (dagga) to make this period smoother.
THE RAVE SCENE
Abuse became widespread in the 1980's starting in the States where it was introduced
to the "dance scene" and its use quickly spread to the UK. The drug only made a significant
appearance in South Africa in 1993. It is now widely used here by youngsters in the "Rave Scene".
|
HOW IS ECSTASY USED AND SOLD?
Ecstasy is usually swallowed as a tablet or capsule but it may be crushed and sniffed or dissolved
in a liquid and then drunk.
The tablets or capsules come in verying colours and sizes, the original being a white tablet with a
peace dove on it. Many look like Panados. They usually come in 100 -150mg tablets. One of these
can cost between R80-R200.
Because "E" is illegal, there is no quality control and the tablets may contain other substances
like LSD, tranquillizers, amphetamines, codeine and ketamine (a hallucinogenic anaesthetic agent).
In South Africa it has been found to even be mixed with heroin, cocaine, strychnine (rat poison),
as well as chalk, caffeine and aspirin.
A single ecstasy tablet shuts down part of the immune system, and two or three will permanently
damage certain brain cells, a new study of the dangers of taking the drug has found.
The study, carried out at University College Galway, showed that regular users were "highly likely" to
suffer from depression and a weakened immune system as a result of the toxic effects of ecstasy.
ECSTASY AND ADDICTION
Ecstasy is not so-called "physically" addictive like heroin, alcohol or nicotine.
With regular use the body does however develop tolerance to the drug; in other words, the regular
user will, over time, need a higher dose for the same effect. Also if the drug is mixed with heroin
or other opiates, the person may well become addicted to these agents. The user may become
psychologically dependant on the high experienced with ecstasy.
|
