Performance Enhancement and Adverse Consequences of MDMA

SUMMARY

Since its emergence as a recreational club drug in the 1970s, 3-4 methylenedioxy-methamphetamine's usage, more commonly known as ecstasy or MDMA, has risen rapidly through the 1990s, mainly among the teens and young adults of the United States and Europe due to its various perceived social effects. As a result of this sudden rise and the unknown nature of the drug's short- and long-term effects on brain chemistry and function, an ever increasing attention in the political, medical, and scientific fields has occurred which lead to increased mainstream media coverage. Although MDMA is not a performance-enhancing drug in the current use, its abuse is highly associated with motives of euphoria, increased sociability and enhanced energy that can lead to altered cognitive performance. Thus, due to the short-term, acute stimulant effects of MDMA, it is currently viewed by abusers as a performance-enhancing drug affecting both the mood and physical abilities. Given the heightened interest in MDMA as a party drug and in order to shed light on what is currently known about it that leads to its perceived perception as performance enhancing drug, this article will provide a comprehensive overview on MDMA's role as a social facilitator along with its usage history, epidemiology, and its adverse neurotoxic effects.

Key Words:

• MDMA
• ecstasy
• club
• drugs
• neurotoxicity
• performance
• enhancing