Toxicity of drug abuse - amphetamine designer drugs (ecstasy): mental effects and consequences of single dose use

MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine) is the most commonly used substance within the 'ecstasy' group of drugs. MDMA interferes with serotonin and ca techolamine transporters in the central nervous system to increase monoamin e synaptic levels and thereby mediate the majority of its central nervous e ffects. These range from wanted effects like euphoria, central nervous stim ulation, and feeling of closeness to mild hallucinations, impairment of cog nition and co-ordination and further to serious reactions like agitation, d isturbed and bizarre behaviour, and possibly psychosis. The full picture of the consequences of these transitory changes is not known. It has been ass umed that the risk of being involved in fatalities and accidents during the state of MDMA influence is increased, but this possible risk increase has so far not been determined. Observations of the prevalence of MDMA involvem ent in cases of reckless driving and the MDMA blood concentrations measured indicate a risk increase comparable to that observed after use of amphetam ines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.