It goes to the brain and causes a massive release of a natural chemical called serotonin. The user will also experience increased heart rate, increased energy level and may hallucinate. Users become depressed and suffer from memory loss. Some chronic users become permanently depressed. Smith notes that Ecstasy has been popular since the late 1980s among young people overseas, particularly in Europe.
Ecstasy abuse can be dangerous.
There have been numerous reports of young people dying after Ecstasy use. Each 300 milligram Ecstasy tablet contains about 75 to 150 milligrams of the drug, often mixed with other chemicals, Smith said. The tablets may be branded with logos such as butterflies, lightning bolts, zodiac signs, stars and clovers. The president's Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that most Ecstasy comes from Europe, but noted recently that the Drug Enforcement Administration seized five clandestine Ecstasy labs in the United States in early 1999. The U.S. military takes service members' drug abuse seriously.