Rise of a Recreational Drug
June 29, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198867364.003.0004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Recreational drug Chemist Documentation Law |
| Key points | Argues that MDMA's early distribution was limited and it was initially produced as a legal alternative to MDA, with two 1970s use hotspots in the Midwest and later Oregon and California. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the early, rather unknown, phase of MDMA as a recreational drug. MDMA was first detected by scientists in a forensic laboratory in 1970, and then a few more times up until 1976. A previously unknown document of the United States DEA has been used to describe these early detections. The evidence shows that up until 1976, the distribution of MDMA was rather limited and MDMA was initially produced as a ‘legal alternative for MDA’, which had been scheduled in 1970. Mention is made of a 1970 science fiction novel by the prominent writer Stanislav Lem, which seemed to describe the effects of MDMA, as well as of new documentation suggesting that the American drug chemist Alexander Shulgin had synthesized MDMA in 1975. A description of the American drug guru Timothy Leary’s first experiences with MDMA in 1978 is also given. There were two ‘hotspots’ for MDMA use during the 1970s: initially in the Midwest, and from 1976 onwards in Oregon and California.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens | 1986 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Background and Chemistry of MDMA | 1986 | Historical analysis | |
| The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents* Original documents in Merck's historical archive in Darmstadt, Germany, years 1900–1960 | 2006 | Historical analysis | |
| Distinct neural mechanisms for the prosocial and rewarding properties of MDMA | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How could MDMA (ecstasy) help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale | 2009 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 79
- Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) on brain serotonin neurons in human beings The Lancet October 1, 1998
- Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Journal of Psychopharmacology October 31, 2012
- Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Neurology December 1, 1998
and 74 more in the library