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The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Trinity Rude
Department of Psychology, Grand Canyon University
PSY-102: General Psychology
Professor Alaila
Eckhardt February 5,
2024
, 2
The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
The impact of drugs on the brain typically goes unrecognized by many users, especially
in the case of using MDMA. MDMA is used today as a common party drug, that is commonly
known as ecstasy. Previously MDMA was created to treat medical issues such as internal
bleedings, though it was quickly popularized as a recreational drug in the 1970s. As MDMA use
shifted from medical to recreational it was declared to be an illegal substance about 4 decades
ago (Is MDMA Addictive?, 2021). Though, declaring MDMA illegal did not stop the purchasing
of the drug. Today many individuals still purchase this drug for the euphoric effects it provides.
Drug Description
MDMA is a synthetic compound, meaning that it does not occur naturally and is created
by man. MDMA may be classified as both a stimulant and a hallucinogenic based on its
chemical structure of 3,4 methylenedioxy- methamphetamine (Department of Justice, n.d).
According to the American Addiction Centers, they describe MDMA as being a combination of
amphetamine and mescaline which results to a combination of both a stimulant and
hallucinogenic substance. As MDMA holds both properties it has varying effects on individuals’
perception as well as mood/ behavior. Some of these effects can be feelings of intense pleasure,
increased energy output, distortion of perception of sensory images as well as time, and
emotional warmth (What are the effects of MDMA?, 2021). To feel these effects, many
individuals take MDMA by a tablet, and has been commonly known to be mixed with other
substances such as alcohol.
Effects on the Brain
The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Trinity Rude
Department of Psychology, Grand Canyon University
PSY-102: General Psychology
Professor Alaila
Eckhardt February 5,
2024
, 2
The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
The impact of drugs on the brain typically goes unrecognized by many users, especially
in the case of using MDMA. MDMA is used today as a common party drug, that is commonly
known as ecstasy. Previously MDMA was created to treat medical issues such as internal
bleedings, though it was quickly popularized as a recreational drug in the 1970s. As MDMA use
shifted from medical to recreational it was declared to be an illegal substance about 4 decades
ago (Is MDMA Addictive?, 2021). Though, declaring MDMA illegal did not stop the purchasing
of the drug. Today many individuals still purchase this drug for the euphoric effects it provides.
Drug Description
MDMA is a synthetic compound, meaning that it does not occur naturally and is created
by man. MDMA may be classified as both a stimulant and a hallucinogenic based on its
chemical structure of 3,4 methylenedioxy- methamphetamine (Department of Justice, n.d).
According to the American Addiction Centers, they describe MDMA as being a combination of
amphetamine and mescaline which results to a combination of both a stimulant and
hallucinogenic substance. As MDMA holds both properties it has varying effects on individuals’
perception as well as mood/ behavior. Some of these effects can be feelings of intense pleasure,
increased energy output, distortion of perception of sensory images as well as time, and
emotional warmth (What are the effects of MDMA?, 2021). To feel these effects, many
individuals take MDMA by a tablet, and has been commonly known to be mixed with other
substances such as alcohol.
Effects on the Brain
