MDMA Movement

            MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a psycho-active stimulant that contains psychoactive properties. This drug is very popular amongst young people, and especially popular known to be prevalent in nightclubs, raves, and social gatherings where the stimulant effects can be exaggerated and multiplied. In 2008, 2.1 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once within the year being surveyed, which means that the drug is fairly common amongst young Americans, along with marijuana and alcohol use (NIDA, 2008)

            MDMA has a severe negative impact on the user. Similar to dextro-methamphetamine, more commonly known as “crystal meth,” MDMA has the ability to permanently disrupt the body’s natural production of serotonin, and dopamine which are responsible for emitting nuero-chemicals that determine mood, and well-being. Other effects include depression, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and severe addiction to the drug.

            MDMA became very popular in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s then slowly became less popular because of the widely known effects as well as the number of organizations which manufactured MDMA were dismantled. However, the MDMA trend had picked up ground again in 2001, when the popular rap artists in the San Francisco Bay Area began glorifying the drug and started to endorse the recreational use of MDMA. This phenomenon was known as the “Thizz Movement.” Along with the increase use of MDMA, the San Francisco Bay Area began to see an increase in crime, as well as sideshows which became increasingly more popular.    

            MDMA is a chemical cousin to methamphetamine which is seen as a much harder drug, but in reality has very similar effects. Through personal experiences I have heard many people say that they would never use methamphetamine, but would not refrain from using MDMA. It is important to understand the similarities of the drug, and to understand that both synthetically manufactured drugs are equally as dangerous.