Ecstasy is similar in structure and affect to amphetamines and hallucinogens .
Amphetamines, or 'speed', are stimulants that speed up activity in the nervous system. Hallucinogens, such as LSD, typically affect perception and can cause things to be seen or heard that don't really exist, or are distorted. Ecstasy is illegal, and its ingredients are often hard to get. Therefore manufacturers may substitute a wide range of substances when making the drug. Like other illegally manufactured drugs, such as speed, there are no controls on factors such as the strength and hygiene of the drug.