A BRIEF HISTORY

A BRIEF HISTORY

MDMA was first made in 1912 by Merck and was patented as an interme­diate in a chemical synthesis (not, as often asserted, as an appetite sup­pressant). It was never used clinically and not tested in humans until the 1950s. The first scientific study was conducted in 1953 by the army, but the results of the study were not published until 1969. A related drug, MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine) was popular with drug users in the six­ties, but MDMA did not return to the scene until after it was synthesized and tested by Sasha Shulgin and Dave Nichols in 1978. A group of psycho­therapists decided that the empathic state produced by Ecstasy could be useful in psychotherapy by producing a temporary state of openness that could help patients achieve insight and mutual understanding. The thera‑peutic benefits of MDMA were not realized, but recreational use spread quickly during the 1980s. This led to concerns that, combined with reports of toxicity, led to its classification by the Drug Enforcement Administra­tion (DEA) as a Schedule! drug (a drug with no valid clinical use). Ecstasy moved quickly into the underground drug scene and was popularized through its use at underground dance parties ("raves") in the United Kingdom. From there, it migrated rapidly to the United States. The Moni­toring the Future Study showed that the annual use of MDMA rose from 4.6 percent of high school seniors in 1996 to 11.7 percent of high school seniors in 2001. However, rising concerns about the potential risks of M DMA, active education campaigns, and decreased availability have led to an equally rapid fall in reported Ecstasy use, which was down to 5.7 percent of high school seniors in 2005. Use has hovered at about the same level since then, although the increased popularity of raves has triggered a resurgence of interest in some communities. Some groups continue to advocate for its clinical use. Several clinical trials are ongoing in Europe, and at least two are underway in the United States (for post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety during end-stage cancer).