Recent Developments
The History of MDMA June 29, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198867364.003.0013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that MDMA distribution has stabilized at a high level in industrialized Western countries and is spreading to developing countries, including Africa. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter gives an overview on the international distribution of MDMA over the last 10 years. It appears that since the early 1990s, MDMA has become a major drug of abuse on a global scale. The period of 2008–12 saw some shortages in supply of the drug due to unavailability of precursor chemicals. However, it is clear that the distribution of MDMA, which peaked around the turn of the century, has stabilized at a high level in industrialized western countries and is now spreading to developing countries, including Africa. Another part of this chapter deals with the history of recent research into MDMA in humans, the potential of MDMA and similar substances as an anti-cancer or anti-Parkinson drug, and the most recent developments in respect of the development of MDMA as a prescription medicine.