MDMA SUBSTITUTES

MDMA SUBSTITUTES

Some of the drugs that are in pills that are supposed to be pure MDMA have effects that are very similar or overlap with those of Ecstasy. Methylone is one of the "bath salts" (see the "Stimulants" chapter) because its struc-ture resembles cathinone (its chemical name is 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone). However, its neurochemical effects resemble those of MDMA. It preferentially releases serotonin, but also dopamine and norepinephrine, and users find its behavioral effects similar to MDMA. Its toxicity is also similar to MDMA, and multiple overdose deaths caused by methylone have been reported in the scientific literature around the world. The pattern of toxicity is the same, with stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, high body temperature, and the cascading organ failure associated with sero­tonin syndrome. Little is known yet about its long-term effects, although some preliminary reports indicate that it does not cause long-term decreases in serotonin like those caused by MDMA. How­ever, there are only a few research reports out, so it is early to conclude

much about its long-term effects.

The piperazine drugs (mCPP, TFMPP, BZP) are another group of drugs that have appeared increasingly in pills that are supposed to be MDMA. These aren't exactly MDMA-like, although there is some over­lap in what they do. Each is a little different. BZP is like a stimulant: it causes stimulant-like behaviors in rodents and increases the release of dopamine and to a lesser extent serotonin. It also has properties com­mon among addictive drugs in animal tests. TFMPP and mCPP are more serotonin selective and have been used to assess serotonin func­tion in research laboratories for many years. Both release serotonin but have hallucinogen-like behavioral actions that probably reflect a stimula­tion of serotonin receptors. The combination of BZP and TFMPP most closely resembles the effects of MDMA. TFM PP or mCPP alone resemble hallucinogens more than MDMA and can cause severe anxiety, halluci­nations, and sympathetic nervous system stimulation.