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NIDA Home > Drugs of Abuse/Related Topics > Ecstasy/MDMA

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Brief
Description:
MDMA is a synthetic drug that has stimulant and psychoactive properties. It is taken orally as a capsule or tablet.
Street Names:
XTC, X, Adam, hug, beans, love drug
More at Street Terms (Office of National Drug Control Policy Web Site)
Effects:
Short-term effects include feelings of mental stimulation, emotional warmth, enhanced sensory perception, and increased physical energy. Adverse health effects can include nausea, chills, sweating, teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. MDMA can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature; on rare occasions, this can be lethal.
Statistics
and Trends:

In 2008, 2.1 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2008 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.7% of 8th graders, 2.9% of 10th graders, and 4.3% of 12th graders had abused MDMA at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site)

NIDA's Featured Publications

NIDA Infofacts: Club Drugs NIDA InfoFacts: MDMA (Ecstasy). Summary of research findings on Ecstasy for a general audience. (Fact sheet).
En Español


Research Reports:  MDMA NIDA Research Report: MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse. More detailed look at the latest research findings. For a general audience. (Report).
En Español


Other NIDA Resources on Ecstasy/MDMA

View all related NIDA publications >> 2802448since 10/25/99
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