High-dose MDMA tablets and variable-purity cocaine and ketamine samples are commonly encountered by drug checking services and police forces in the United Kingdom and Europe. At the time of writing, there are few simpleto-operate field-portable technologies that provide semi-quantitative information on MDMA tablet dosage or cocaine and ketamine purity at the point of sampling. We previously...
PsychoactivesJune 8, 2026Fizza Mitter, Anton Sheptooha, Janni Leung et al.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains inadequately treated by existing pharmacological and psychological interventions, prompting growing interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Although randomised controlled trials have evaluated several psychedelic agents for PTSD, to our knowledge, no prior PTSD-specific synthesis has quantitatively examined multiple agent classes within a...
Negative Emotionality (NEM) is a trait measure that reflects a tendency toward experiencing intense negative emotions and heightened reactivity to perceived threats or stressors, contributing to challenges with social integration and interpersonal relationships. This secondary analysis in healthy volunteers (N = 30) employed a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to...
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized by dependence, withdrawal, and high relapse risk, yet the neuroimmune mechanisms underlying withdrawal in the amygdala remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) modulates heroin withdrawal–induced neuroinflammation in the central amygdala (CeA) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Adult male...
“Happy water” has been gaining popularity among party goers. The effect of consuming this drug can be fatal. Two patients of “Happy water” overdose were admitted for reduced level of consciousness after enjoying a farewell party at nightclub. Urine for toxicology screening was found to be positive for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, diazepam and tramadol. “Happy water” is...
Background: ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has positive effects on socio-emotional processing and MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) showed promise for treating SAD in a previous placebo-controlled trial. Aims: Develop a preliminary estimate of clinical response and safety for MDMA-AT versus waitlist in adults with SAD. Secondary aims included refinement of a standardized psychotherapy...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AT) is being investigated as a treatment for several psychiatric disorders, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder. Phase 2 and 3 trials typically administered a first dose of MDMA followed by a second "booster" dose 1.5-2.5 h later, to extend the acute effect duration. However, the risks and benefits of the booster dose...
Introduction Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has re-emerged as a frontier of psychiatry, offering transformative potential for conditions resistant to conventional treatment. Personality disorders—particularly Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)—are marked by affective instability, interpersonal dysfunction, and maladaptive relational patterns that often limit therapeutic progress. MDMA’s...
Introduction MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)–assisted therapy has gained growing scientific attention as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Although clinical studies suggest potential benefits, concerns remain regarding cardiovascular safety, methodological rigor, and variability in psychotherapeutic support (Singh et al . CNS...
The emergence of contemporary psychological stressors, synthetic psychoactive substance abuse, and non-substance behavioral dependency networks presents critical investigative challenges within public healthcare and classical toxicology (Agadatantra), traditionally analyzed through the concepts of Madya (intoxicants), Mada (intoxication), and severe cognitive perversion (Prajñāparādha). This...
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MDMA‐assisted therapy for treating severe mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder, a news release announced May 26.
Ecstasy is commonly used on weekends and linked to post-use mood declines. Laboratory studies with pure MDMA rarely detect residual effects, whereas naturalistic studies more often report mood reductions. The timing and contextual drivers of these effects remain unclear. Data from seventeen participants reporting weekend ecstasy use (10 male, 7 female; 19-38 years) were drawn from a previously...
In this commentary on Morland et al. (2026)'s recent State of the Science article on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we aim to emphasize both MDMA's therapeutic promise and its unresolved scientific challenges. Although recent trials on MDMA-assisted interventions have reported encouraging reductions in PTSD symptoms, the...
To determine whether antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion influences baseline or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced oxytocin signaling in rats. Male Wistar rats received broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) or water for 7 days, followed by a single oral administration of MDMA (30 mg/kg). Plasma oxytocin levels were measured by ELISA, and oxytocin-immunoreactivity in the...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remain leading causes of disability, providing the impetus for receptor-level treatment strategies beyond monoamine reuptake. The serotonin 5-HT2B receptor (5-HT2BR) is uniquely positioned at the interface of central-antidepressant mechanisms and peripheral cardiac risks. Herein, we reviewed preclinical, translational and...
Maintaining effective blinding is a major methodological challenge in psychedelic research. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of blinding integrity in 120 healthy volunteers who received either psilocybin, MDMA, or methylphenidate (active placebo) in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Using a multi-level assessment incorporating forced-choice substance guesses, certainty...
Ecstasy, though, is an inexpressible and condensed experience through which the Ultimate can be revealed, the mystic poet finds expression in resorting to symbolism to reflect the uniqueness of his/her spiritual experience and to communicate the unsaying. Approaching the divine essence and expressing the euphoria of His presence in meditation, recollection and self-forgetfulness are often...
Spanish colonialism in the Americas offered a single vision of holiness, crafting Western notions of visuality and sign(s) as rooted in Christian imagery. The reality of figures of faith is bound to images and visual perception. This paper aims to examine this notion, how it upholds Western power structures, and how mysticism disrupts gendered boundaries within the Catholic Church. Mystic...
Methamphetamine (METH, "Crystal Meth") and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") are two types of substituted amphetamines that share structural-chemical similarities but exhibit contrasting acute and chronic effects including addictive liability. Tryptophan (TRY) pathways are involved in pleiotropic physiological functions at the interface of brain-body connections. Preclinical...
Boris B Quednow, Rebecca C Coray; Reply: The consequences of MDMA use are not easily disentangled from other drug use or lifestyle factors, Brain, , awag17