What is Ecstasy?

Ecstasy is the common name for MDMA, an illegal synthetic drug that changes mood and perception and awareness of surrounding objects and conditions. MDMA is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens.

Ecstasy’s effects include a false euphoria, increased energy, emotional warmth and distorted perception. However, it also causes involuntary teeth clenching, dangerously high body temperature and depression. Ecstasy can also damage the heart, veins, arteries, kidneys, liver and nervous system and can lead to devastating consequences, including death.

MDMA was first developed in 1912 by the German drugmaker Merck. In the 1950s, both the US Army and the CIA used MDMA in psychological warfare tests. It reappeared in the 1960s as a therapy drug to “lower inhibitions.”*

By the 1970s, MDMA started being used as a party drug. In the early 1980s, it was promoted as “the hottest thing in the continuing search for happiness through chemistry” and the “in drug” for many weekend parties. Still legal in 1984, MDMA was being sold under the brand name Ecstasy but, by 1985, the drug had been banned due to safety concerns.

Since the late 1980s, Ecstasy has become a marketing term for drugs sold as MDMA but that may contain little or none of it. Today’s Ecstasy often includes a mix of drugs such as LSD, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine and even substances like rat poison or dog dewormer. Despite the cute logos dealers put on the pills, users don’t know what they are taking, increasing the risk when they use more to chase a high.

Ecstasy is usually a pill, but it can also be injected. Liquid Ecstasy is not MDMA—it is GHB, a depressant made from dangerous chemicals like drain cleaner, floor stripper and degreasing solvents.

* inhibitions: ideas or rules that tend to stop a person from doing something

Street names

• Adam
• Beans
• Cadillac
• California Sunrise
• Clarity
• E
• Elephants
• Essence
• Eve
• Hug
• Hug Drug
• Love Pill
• Lover’s Speed
• Roll
• Scooby Snacks
• Snowball
• X
• XE
• XTC

Tracking Ecstasy

• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 744,000 Americans aged 12 or older have tried Ecstasy at least once.
• The Monitoring the Future survey shows that 1.7 percent of 8th graders, 2.6 percent of 10th graders and 3.6 percent of 12th graders have used Ecstasy.
• Many Ecstasy users go on to consume other drugs including marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and heroin.

Updated: 2025