Ecstacy

Class:
A

Other Names:
Disco burgers, Dennis the Menace, diamonds, fantasy, dove, e, Adam and XTC.

Effects:
Ecstasy takes affect after 20 minutes and can last for several hours. People feel energetic and paranoid, suffering after effects such as sleep deprivation and depression. Long-term effects of this drug are unknown, but ecstasy is believed to cause damage to the liver and possibly brain cells.

What to look for:
The drug itself is taken orally, so look out for small white, yellow, brown or pink tablets or capsules.

Other info:
Taking ecstasy is often associated with clubs and raves. The main risks in this context are dehydration or heat stroke, because taking ecstasy and dancing for long periods in hot clubs, can lead to your body temperature rising to dangerous levels. This is why users are advised to drink (plenty) of water (about a pint per hour - sipping at regular intervals) and also to replace the body's minerals by eating or drinking something with sodium content, such as salty snacks, fruit or fizzy drinks. Water and sodium are advised to counteract dehydration caused by over exertion and ecstasy use - IT IS NOT AN ANTIDOTE.

FACT:
Ecstasy is a stimulant that is dangerous for people with high blood pressure, heart conditions and those people prone to epileptic fits. There have been a number of deaths relating to ecstasy.

Law:

• The maximum sentence for possessing ecstasy is 7 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
• The maximum sentence for supplying ecstasy (including giving a tablet to a friend) is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.