Assistant Executive Director, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services, Inc.

It seems that every generation has had a designer drug that young people have embraced. The '60s drug culture was associated with marijuana. The psychedelic '70s were associated with LSD. The 80s were trafficked by cocaine. The '90s saw a resurgence of heroin. And, now, Generation X must come to terms with their drug of choice, ecstasy.

MDMA or "ecstasy" is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with amphetamine-type and hallucinogenic properties. MDMA has been around since 1912. It was patented by the Merck Pharmaceuticals in 1914 and tested by the US Government as part of our military's chemical warfare investigations in the 1950s. The drug was nearly forgotten for 20 years until 1970, when it resurfaced as part of the psychedelic psychotherapy movement. Today, ecstasy, which acts both like a stimulant and a hallucinogen, produces a euphoric high that has made it a favorite among young people on the American party scene and has become the rave of young people on Long Island as well.

In their 1998 report, the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that the heaviest users of MDMA in the United States were young people between the ages of 18 to 25. The drug has a street value of $20 to $30 per 80 to 150 milligram tablet. Since MDMA is qualified as a Schedule I drug, it is illegal in the United States and in most other countries. The pills purchased on the street are often unreliable in content and some users who think they're taking ecstasy may be ingesting a completely different and more potent compound. Of course, in some cases, this blind consumption of unknown substances has led to overdose and accidental death.

So what do we know about this drug that has become the rave at concerts, dances and other social events frequented by many of our children? The stimulant effects of MDMA, which enables users to dance for extended periods, may also lead to dehydration, hypertension, and heart or kidney failure. The drug takes effect in 30 minutes to two hours, depending upon the dosage, while the high can last up to four hours. However, for many users there is an additional 2 to 6 hour period when it might be difficult for the person to sleep and they might exhibit mood swings or experience a marked difference in their perceived reality. Is the ecstasy high or lack of inhibition at a concert or party really worth the inherent risks associated with the drug?

As the peak effects of the drug wear off, the user can experience a dramatic mood swing or 'crash' after coming down from the high. Often, users can experience post-ecstasy depression that can last from five days to several weeks. Users might also experience confusion, sleep disturbances, other drug cravings, severe anxiety and paranoia. There are also several physical symptoms associated with ecstasy use, including involuntary teeth clenching, muscle tension, faintness, chills or sweating.

If you suspect that your child or a loved one might be experimenting with ecstasy, or if you might be experimenting with Ecstasy or any other illegal substance, it just makes sense to get help. The Community Program at Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services is just one of many community resources that can help. You can contact the Community Program by calling 822-4060.