Validating the consumption of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) in an examination of the behavioural effects of "ecstasy" amongst recreationalusers

Although several publications have reported the subjective effects of "ecst asy" in recreational users of the drug, none have attempted to validate the se effects by confirming actual ingestion of the active ingredient 3,4-meth ylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the population under study, Given that "ecstasy" tablets have been shown to contain a range of ingredients other t han pure MDMA this failure to assess ingestion is a significant omission. T his study examines the behavioural effects experienced by a sample of users (N=32) con suming what they assumed to be ecstasy, where actual consumptio n was confirmed through analysis of urine samples. A wide range of positive and negative effects associated with ecstasy use were reported by particip ants in this study. Individuals who consumed tablets which did not contain MDMA reported awareness of its absence.