Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea

popularity in Europe in little more than a decade, becoming a social phenomenon of thefirst order.CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONChemically, the majority are phenylethylamines which is a chemical group known,primarily, for including the amphetamines. The synthetic drugs most well-known to us(MDA; MDMA; MDEA...), belong to this group. There are isolated references to theapogee of others, less popular up to now, such as 2CB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenthylamine) and ICE (crystalline methyl amphetamine hydrochloride)which can be smoked easily, and those which been described, on occasions, as ‘newecstasy’. A second group of synthetic drugs comprises certain synthetic opiatederivatives (derived from phentanyl and meperidine), the most well-known substance inthis group being the alphamethylphentanyl, known on the streets as China White. Thislast group of substances attempts to duplicate the euphoric effects of heroin. They havea very rapid onset (1 to 4 minutes) and a short duration of action (around 30 to 90minutes). They are normally injected and their addictive capacity and the production ofrespiratory depression makes them quite dangerous.Other chemical groups comprise the arylcyclohexylamines (such as phencyclidineor PCP and ketamine which is an anaesthetic), derived from metacualona, a substancewhich was very popular in North America.... But, as we have already said, we are notdealing with a closed group of pharmaceutical products -new ones are welcomed whichis why they keep appearing -such as GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate) or ephedrine(popularly called cat) which enjoys greater or lesser popularity, depending on thecountry or time. There are also some already known drugs and which have been verypopular for years such as LSD 25 and amyl nitrate (known as poppers) or the habitualamphetamines such as metamphetamines which are making a come-back and beingused in the same circumstances as designer drugs, with a pattern of use very similar tothese latter. A recent review of the subject (Griffiths and Vingoe, 1997a), spokespecifically of amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD as a single group of travellingcompanions, to describe the similar role which they all play.However as we have already pointed out, it is not the chemical composition thatparticularly defines this group, so that outlines of use about one of them may possiblybe applied, in some form or other, to the remainder in the group. Although there arechemical variations between some of the drugs in this group, the profile of the effectswhen use is a recreational one and, even more so, when it concerns amphetaminederivatives, is relatively similar. In addition, the fact that one is more popular thananother depends, at times, on matters external to its effects. In comparison with MDEA,MDMA has less lasting effects, whereas MBDB is more similar but the effects are lessintense. MDA is the one with most psychedelic effects and MDE has less emotionaleffects than MDMA. The effects seem to be closely related with the time, the place, theexpectations created... and it would not be easy, even for experienced users, todistinguish the composition of the product being used. MDMA or ecstasy is certainly14