NAMES
E, XTC, doves, disco biscuits, echoes, hug drug. eccies, burgers, Fantasy (chemical name: MDMA)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/HOW IT'S TAKEN
- Ecstasy usually comes in tablets of different shapes, size and colour (but often white).
- The effects of MDMA are unpredictable.
- A tablet might not contain MDMA. Other drugs which might be sold as MDMA can have very different effects.
- Ecstasy is a Class A drug.
THE EFFECTS
- Users can feel alert and in tune with their surroundings and with other people too.
- Sound, colour and emotions can seem much more intense.
- The energy buzz from ecstasy means users may dance for hours.
- The effects last anything from 3 to 6 hours.
THE RISKS
- As ecstasy starts working (known as 'coming up') users may feel a tightening of the jaw, nausea, sweating and an increase in heart rate.
- The comedown can leave users feeling tired and depressed, often for days.
- Use has been linked to liver and kidney problems.
- Studies into the effects of ecstasy are still at an early stage. However, research shows that MDMA dramatically affects the brain chemistry of animals.
- There have been about 60 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK.
THE LAW
Class A.
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