Ecstasy (MDMA) - How Is It Taken?

How Is It Taken?

At least part of ecstasy's popularity is based on how easy it is to take. It is sold primarily in pill form. Users swallow the small pills with water or alcohol. Some users have been known to crush ecstasy and snort it. The average dose per pill is 50 milligrams, but the dosages can range up to 300 milligrams.

When sold on the street, ecstasy pills might also contain such substances as caffeine, dextromethorphan, or a dangerous hallucinogen called PMA. Some club drug users unknowingly take PMA thinking it is ecstasy. PMA is nicknamed death because pe
When sold on the street, ecstasy pills might also contain such substances as caffeine, dextromethorphan, or a dangerous hallucinogen called PMA. Some club drug users unknowingly take PMA thinking it is ecstasy. PMA is nicknamed "death" because people tend to overdose on it easily. © Houston Scott/Corbis Sygma.

Sometimes ecstasy is taken deliberately with other controlled substances. A combination of ecstasy and LSD is called a "candy flip." The DAWN report indicates that ecstasy users who are admitted to hospital emergency rooms sometimes also test positive for marijuana, hallucinogens, or stimulants such as cocaine.

Ecstasy pills come in various colors and designs. According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse from November 2002: "In order to market their product, 'cooks' [drug makers] in many areas produce ecstasy pills in a variety of colors and shapes, with numerous logos, labels, and stamps. Corporate names, fashion designers, and cartoon characters are often featured, with constant changes in some

Ecstasy pills come in various shapes and colors with many different symbols, characters, or words stamped on them. By Argosy for Thomson Gale.
Ecstasy pills come in various shapes and colors with many different symbols, characters, or words stamped on them. By Argosy for Thomson Gale.

cities as different fads come and go." Popular designs include the letter "e," hearts, shamrocks, animals, smiley faces, car logos, the Nike symbol, Pokemon characters, Batman, Superman, Popeye, Mickey Mouse, Buddha, and the Statue of Liberty. Patterns and colors often vary by region of the country.