Drug Index

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Usually sold as white or off white powder. Common dose is 75-100mg usually taken orally. A similar chemical MMDA has been misrepresented as Ecstasy on the street.

Medical Uses

Produced in labs specifically for illicit drug market. No currently accepted medical use.

Short Term Effects

A hallucinogen with stimulant properties which can produce feelings of euphoria, pleasure, empathy and sociability, as well as confusion, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, panic attacks, blurred vision, nausea, muscle tension, teeth-clenching, faintness, chills, sweating and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Higher doses produce distortions in perception, thinking and memory, hallucinations and, in some people, anxiety and depression. Deaths as a result of kidney and/ or heart failure due to dehydration or hyperthermia have occurred in the context of raves or dances.

Long Term Effects

Regular use may result in hangovers, weight loss, exhaustion, flashbacks, paranoia, depression, psychosis and liver damage. Studies in animals have found evidence of brain damage with repeated or heavy use.

Tolerance and Dependance

With repeated use, tolerance to MDMA may develop. Chronic users may become psychologically dependent. MDMA is not known to cause physical dependence.

Legal Status

In Canada, these hallucinogens are governed by the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act applicable to Schedule III. Possession is a criminal offence punishable on indictment by imprisonment for up to three years and on summary conviction to a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. A subsequent offence is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to one year or both. Trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, production, import and export offences are punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for up to eighteen months or on indictment by imprisonment for up to ten years.

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