Ecstasy

=__E__ __c__ __s__ __t__ __a__ __s__ __y__ = __**Background**__  Ecstasy is one of the most dangerous drugs, also known as MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).MDMA was used as a psychotherapeutic tool and started to become available on the street In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. It is illigal and the penalty of making the drug can be 99 years in prison or a fine of $100,000 depending on the amount.

__**Effects**__ Some effects of using ecstasy are:
 * feeling peaceful, acceptance, and empathy
 * involuntary teeth clendhing
 * loss of inhibitions
 * transfixion on sight and sounds
 * nausea
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">blurred vision
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">chills/ or sweating
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">increase heartrate
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">increase blood pressure
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">seizures
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sensual arousal
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">enable users to dance for a long time

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<span style="color: #9c32e2; font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> <span style="color: #9c32e2; font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">

__**How it is Made**__ <span style="font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 29px;"> Ecstasy is a designed drug, which means it is made artificially. There is a complex way of making the drug using different chemicals. Formula from []: To a well stirred, cooled mixture of 34g of 30% H202 (hydrogen peroxide) in 150g 80% HCO2H (formic acid) there was added, dropwise, a solution of 32.4g isosafrole in 120ml acetone at a rate that kept the reaction mixture from exceeding 40 deg C. This required a bit over 1 hour, and external cooling was used as necessary. Stirring was continued for 16 hours, and care was taken that the slow exothermic reaction did not cause excess heating. An external bath with running water worked well. During this time the solution progressed from an orange color to a deep red. All volatile components were removed under vacuum which yielded some 60g of a very deep residue. This was dissolved in 60ml of MeOH (methyl alcohol -- methanol), treated with 360ml of 15% H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), and heated for 3 hours on the steam bath. After cooling the mixture was extracted with 3x75ml Et2O (diethyl ether) or C6H6 (benzene). Its recommended that, the pooled extracts can washed -- first with H2O and then with dilute NaOH (sodium hydroxide). Then the solvent is removed under vacuum to afford 20.6g 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylaceton e (3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl methyl ketone). The final residue may be distilled at 2.0mm/108-112 deg C, or at about 160 deg C at the water pump.



__**<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px;">How is it taken? **__ Ecstasy is mostly taken in pill form and it comes in many shapes, colors, and designs. A lot of tablets have decorative patterns and are 'branded' as you can see from above. Some users have also been known to crush and snort the ecstasy powder.

<span style="color: #9c32e2; font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px;">__**Facts**__ The majority of MDMA is produced in laboratories in Europe and then smuggled into the United States. Another reason Ecstasy can be especially dangerous is the lack of content control. Ingredients are hard to get and manufacturers of the drug often use substitutes, by mixing other harmful additives with the already dangerous mix. This is so common that “drug test kits” are often sold with the drug so users can test for purity. Depending on size, weight, health, dosage and other drugs being used, the reaction can be mild or very severe. Anyone suffering from hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, mental illness or panic most likely will have more risky effects. Most of the short term effects start within 20 minutes of taking ecstasy and can last for 4 - 6 hours or longer. Higher dosages can cause convulsions, irrational behavior, and hallucinations. Users have reported having problems with insomnia, anxiety, paranoia, concentration and depression after taking the drug.

__**<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'bradley hand itc',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px;">Statistic **__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-US;"> <[|www2.hawaii.edu/~destinyj/ ecstasy/ecstasy.htm]>

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= __Personal Reflections__ = **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">1) List three things you learnt about drugs during this project. ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> How ecstasy is made, how dangerous some drugs are, and the punishment of making the drug.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">2) List three things you would like to learn about in the future concerning drugs. ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I would like to know which drug is the most dangerous, the most expensive, and the worst punishment of taking a certin type of drug.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">3) List three things you enjoy about using this learning environment (Wiki). ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> It is more fun than writing an essay, I can get and process information faster, and I can read other people’s information easily.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">4) List three things you dislike about using this learning environment (Wiki). ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> The format is complicated, I’m not used to it, and it is troublesome to have to save so often.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">5) Do you prefer traditional written essays or creating a Wiki page for assessment? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I prefer using Wiki.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">6) How do you feel about contributing to other people’s pages ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I think it helps when people contibute to other's pages.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">7) How do you feel about other people contributing to your page? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I find it helpful.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">8) How do you feel about self-assessment? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I prefer not to self asses becuase it can be unfair.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">9) Which topic do you feel personally was more beneficial in semester one – drugs or love? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.35pt;"> I think the dugs topic was more beneficial.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">10) If you could choose your own topics for PSE what would you like to study? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Bibliography__

Basic Facts About Drugs: Ecstasy. 23 November 2009 <**[|**http://www.acde.org/common/ecstasy.htm**]**>.

Ecstasy. 27 November 2009 <**[|**http://www.drugfree.org/portal/drug_guide/Ecstasy**]**>.

How is Ecstasy Made. 4 December 2009 <**[|**http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2116**]**>.**