PMA and PMMA - What Is It Made Of?

What Is It Made Of?

PMA and PMMA are produced from amphetamines, drugs that stimulate the body's central nervous system. Often called "uppers" or "speed," amphetamines increase energy and decrease appetite. PMA is said to be twenty times more powerful than amphetamines. One of the substances found in PMA is anethole (ANN-uh-tholl), a component of the aromatic herbs anise (AN-iss) or fennel.

Chemically speaking, PMMA and PMA are very similar, and their effects on the human body are virtually identical. Of the two, PMA is the one most often found in the blood samples of overdose victims. PMA has been found in pill and powder form, and it is sold in pills mixed with other drugs such as ecstasy. PMA is extremely toxic to the human body. Although some of the PMA pills that caused death contained no ecstasy, they have been made to look identical to ecstasy in size, color, and logos. Pure PMA is beige, white, yellow, or pink. The color of the pills being sold on the street varies; most commonly they are beige, white, or red and may have the three-diamond mitsubishi logo stamped on them. In 2004 a small amount of light purple pills with no logo on them were found to contain PMMA.