Ecstasy: The Complete Guide : A Comprehensive Look at the Risks and Benefits of MDMA

by Julie Holland

• The world's leading experts on Ecstasy assess its therapeutic potential, social implications, and the dangers of unsupervised use.

• Includes chapters by Andrew Weil, Ralph Metzner, Douglas Rushkoff, Rabbi Zalman Schachter, Rick Doblin, and others.

• An ideal guide for parents and educators seeking a credible source of information.

Use of the drug Ecstasy, once confined to the teen rave scene and college campuses, is exploding across America, from high schools to upscale clubs. Described by users as the most intense euphoria they know and by detractors as a cause of brain damage and even death, Ecstasy has generated unprecedented levels of interest-and misinformation.

Written by the world's leading experts on MDMA, The Complete Guide takes the first unbiased look at the risks and the benefits of this unique drug, including the science of how it works; its promise as a treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and other illnesses; and how to minimize the risk of illicit use. Whether you are a raver, a concerned parent, or a professional wanting the most recent reports on MDMA research, The Complete Guide provides the answers you need.

Genres: Drugs, Psychology, Science, Reference, Health, Self Help, Medicine

464 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Dr. Julie Holland is a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City. From 1996 to 2005, Dr. Holland ran the psychiatric emergency room of Bellevue Hospital on Saturday and Sunday nights. A liaison to the hospital's medical emergency room and toxicology department, she is considered an expert on street drugs and intoxication states, and lectures widely on this topic.

Reviews

[Volo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, balanced, multifaceted and comprehensive, Ecstasy introduces most of the relevant perspectives for evaluating the promises and dangers of MDMA. A collage of interviews, research article abstracts, essays, and text book entries pointing towards history, chemistry, biology, statistics, clinical narratives, anthropology, policy, and spiritual meanings. Reading it requires an academic throughout interest, but from what I know, this really is a sufficient outlook into MDMA. Time-wise, this anthology precedes controlled clinical trials on MDMA-assisted psychotheraphy for PTSD and other diagnostic categories, leaving a less-convincing speculative atmosphere.
Given that 15 extremely prolific years have passed since the publication of this work, a revised version of Ecstasy would be a major contribution to the field. This progress is the sole reason why I leave my rating at 4/5. While this is one of those books I would hope all mental health clinicians to have read through, I would be hesitant to recommend it due to introducing a now much elaborated on topic, even if the foundations still stand.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about comprehensive! This is a very mature, unbiased look at MDMA. This was my main source for material in my Psychology thesis.

This gem also sparked a brief flirtation with the possibility of becoming one of the world's first Psychotherapists that use MDMA as a primary tool to break down barriers and help patients open up. The potential for breakthroughs in the areas of PTSD (especially concerning rape and sexual abuse) is infuriatingly underutilized by our government! "Drugs" are on this planet for a purpose.

There was a line that said something like: "The highest rate of success for Psychotherapy treatment was with MDMA and a caring Psychotherapist"... Man, how the world could change, and how I'd like to do this for a living. I know a dozen family and friends that could benefit from MDMA Psychotherapy, and these same people are screwed up and exhausted with uncaring, greedy doctors, dangerous and side-effect-ridden "medicines" with no results, and misinformation. Give it a read.

[Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

2015.05.14–

Contents

Holland J (ed.) (2001) Ecstasy - The Complete Guide - A Comprehensive Look at the Risks and Benefits of MDMA

Acknowledgments
About This Book
Introduction: Medicine for a New Millennium (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part I: Let X = MDMA
• Introduction

01. The History of MDMA (Julie Holland, M.D.)

02. What Does MDMA Feel Like? (Gary Bravo, M.D.)
• Tolerance to the Subjective Effects of MDMA
• Spiritual Effects
• Conclusion

03. How MDMA Works in the Brain (Jessica Malberg, Ph.D., and Katherine R. Bonson, Ph.D.)
• How Neurotransmmiter Systems Function in the Brain
• MDMA and the 5-HT Transporter
• MDMA and Dopamine
• MDMA and 5-HT Receptors
• MDMA and Interactions with Other Drugs
• • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs)
• • Dextromethorphan (DXM)
• • MAO Inhibitors
• • Hallucinogens
• Summary

04. The Chemistry of MDMA (David Nichols, Ph.D.)
• Acids and Bases

05. MDMA Myths and Rumors Dispelled (Julie Holland, M.D.)
• Ecstasy Drains Your Spinal Fluid
• Ecstasy Causes Parkinson’s Disease
• A Single Dose of Ecstasy Causes Irreversible Brain Damage
• MDMA Was Initially Marketed as an Appetite Suppressant
• Ecstasy Is an Aphrodisiac
• Ecstasy Is a Date Rape Drug
• There Is Heroin in Ecstasy Pills
• Ecstasy Puts Holes in Your Brain
• Ecstasy Turns Your Brain into Cartilage

06. The Godparents of MDMA: An Interview with Ann and Sasha Shulgin (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part II: Risks of MDMA Use
• Introduction

07. Medical Risks Associated with MDMA Use (John Henry, M.D., and Joe Rella, M.D.)
• Hyperthermia
• • Management of Ecstasy-Induced Hyperthermia
• Ecstasy-Induced Hyponatremia
• • Management of Ecstasy-Induced Hyponatremia
• The Serotonin Syndrome
• Cardiac Complications
• Liver Abnormalities
• The Liver Enzyme CYP2D6
• Neurological Complications
• General Management of MDMA Toxicity
• Assessing the Risk of MDMA Use

08. Mental Health Problems Associated with MDMA Use (Karl L. R. Jansen, M.D., Ph.D.)
• Problems with Reports of MDMA Use and Consequence
• • Was the Drug Taken Actually MDMA?
• • The Role of Polydrug Use
• • The Role of Set and Setting
• • The Probability of a Chance Association
• • Poor Pre-morbid Adjustment
• • Preexisting Neurochemical, Genetic, and Personality Differences
• • The Role of the Media
• What Are the Risks in Numerical Terms?
• Adverse Psychological Effects of MDMA
• • Psychosis
• • Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks
• • Depersonalization and Derealization
• • Depression and Mania
• • Cognitive Deficits (Impaired Memory, Attention, and Concentration)
• • The Pandora’s Box Syndrome
• • Flashbacks and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• • Sleep Disturbance
• Ecstasy—A Stepping-Stone to Other Drugs?
• Tolerance and Dependence
• Treatment
• • To Talk Down or to Medicate?
• • Psychotherapy
• • Medication
• • Meditation, Relaxation, Martial Arts, and Physical Exercise
• • Antioxidants and Food Supplements: Tryptophan and Tyrosin
• Conclusions

09. Does MDMA Cause Brain Damage? (Matthew Baggot and John Mendelson, M.D.)
• Introduction
• Long-Term Serotonergic Changes with MDMA
• • Serotonergic Changes Accompanied by Structural Changes to Axons
• • Serotonergic and Axonal Changes: Evidence of Damage?
• The Role of Oxidative Stress in MDMA Neurotoxicity
• • Proposed Sources of Oxidative Stress
• Dependence of the Extent of Neurotoxicity on Dose, Route of Administration, and Species
• • Reasons and Possible Justifications for High-Dose Administration of MDMA in Animals
• • Influence of Environment, Especially Ambient Temperature, on Neurotoxicity in Rats and Mice
• • Time Course of Changes and Extent of Recovery
• Behavioral and Functional Correlates of MDMA Exposure in Animals
• Studies Comparing Ecstasy Users and Nonusers
• • Personality Differences Between Ecstasy Users and Nonusers
• • Neurofunctional Differences Between Ecstasy Users and Nonusers
• • Cognitive Differences Between Ecstasy Users and Nonusers
• Possible Significance of Cognitive Differences and MDMA Neurotoxicity
• Findings in Prospective Clinical MDMA Studies
• • Potential Strategies for Reducing Risk of Neurotoxicity in Clinical Settings
• • The Need for More Research
• Summary

10. The Legal Status of MDMA around the World (Julie Holland, M.D.)
• The History of the Scheduling of MDMA
• Recent MDMA Legal Maneuvers
• • The Anti-Ecstasy Proliferation Act
• • The Methamphetamine and Club Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000
• Penalties for Possession and Sale of MDMA in the United States
• • Examples of State Penalties
• • • California
• • • Delaware
• • • New Jersey
• • • Texas
• International Law Regarding MDMA
• • Australia
• • Brazil
• • Canada
• • China
• • Greece
• • Hong Kong
• • India
• • Israel
• • Italy
• • Singapore
• • Spain
• • Switzerland
• • United Kingdom

11. Minimizing Risks in the Dance Community: An Interview with Emanuel Sferios (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part III: MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy
• Introduction
• MDMA acts as a catalyst to the psychotherapeutic process in four ways:
• • Connection
• • Recall
• • Insight
• • Acceptance

12. Using MDMA in Healing, Psychotherapy, and Spiritual Practice (Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., and Sophia Adamson)
• Guidelines for the Sacramental Use of Empathogenic Substances
• • Preparation and Set
• • Alchemical Catalysts
• • Setting and Context
• • Process and Method in Individual Sessions
• • Process and Ritual for Group Session
• • Follow-up and Aftereffects

13. Experience with the Interpersonal Psychedelics (Claudio Naranjo, M.D.)
• Introduction
• On Feeling Enhancement and the Facilitation of Psychotherapy
• MDA: The Drug of Analysis
• MMDA: The Eternal Now
• MDMA: A Nontoxic Alternative to MDA

14. Clinical Experience with MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy: An Interview with George Greer, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part IV: Potential Clinical Uses for MDMA
• Introduction

15. Using MDMA in the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (José Carlos Bouso)
• Introduction
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• • Clinical Characteristics
• • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Victims of Sexual Assault
• • Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Victims of Sexual Assault
• MDMA and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• • Phase One
• • Phase Two
• • Phase Three

16. Using MDMA in the Treatment of Depression (June Riedlinger, R.Ph., Pharm. D., and Michael Montagne, Ph.D.)
• Introduction
• Extent and Nature of Depression
• Clinical Features of Depression
• Biochemical Basis of Depression
• Psychedelic Psychotherapy
• • Limitations of Psychedelic Psychotherapy
• • Psychedelic Therapy’s Relevance to MDMA Therapy
• MDMA’s Role in the Treatment of Depression
• • Treating Suicidal Depression with MDMA
• Risks of MDMA Use
• Conclusions

17. Using MDMA in the Treatment of Schizophrenia (Julie Holland, M.D.)
• The Dopamine Theory of Schizophrenia
• • Clinical Studies: Giving Dopamine Agonists to People with Schizophrenia
• • Serotonin and Schizophrenia
• • Clinical Studies: Giving Serotonin Agonists to Schizophrenics
• Pre-Pulse Inhibition
• Testimonials
• • Robert
• • John
• • James

18. Using MDMA in Alternative Medicine: An Interview with Andrew Weil, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part IV: MDMA Research
• Introduction

19. Clinical Research with MDMA: A Worldwide Review (Andrew Kleiman, M.D., and Julie Holland, M.D.)
• England
• Spain
• Switzerland
• United States
• Conclusion

20. Giving MDMA to Human Volunteers in Switzerland (Alex Gamma, Ph.D., Matthias E. Liechti, M.D., and Franz X. Vollenweider, M.D.)
• Introduction
• Psychological Effects of MDMA
• Cardiovascular Effects of MDMA
• Adverse Effects of MDMA
• Neurobiological Processes Associated with MDMA Effects
• • Effects of MDMA on Neurotransmitter Systems
• • Effects of MDMA on Brain Activity
• • Effects of MDMA on Information Processing
• Conclusion

21. Giving MDMA to Human Volunteers in the United States: An Interview with Charles Grob, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Part V: MDMA and Society
• Introduction
• The Tribal Dance
• The Politics of Ecstasy

22. Ecstasy: Prescription for Cultural Renaissance (Douglas Rushkoff, Ph.D.)

23. MDMA and Spirituality: An Interview with Rabbi Zalman Schachter (Julie Holland, M.D.)

24. MDMA’s Promise as a Prescription Medicine: An Interview with Rick Doblin, Ph.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)

Appendices
• History Timeline (Julie Holland, M.D.)
• Statistics Timeline (Julie Holland, M.D.)
• Table I: Studies of Long-term Behavioral or Functional Changes after MDMA in Animals (Matthew Baggot and John Mendelson, Ph.D.)
• Table II: Reported Neurofunctional Differences between Ecstasy Users and Nonusers (Matthew Baggot and John Mendelson, Ph.D.)
• Table III: Memory Studies of Ecstasy Users vs. Nonusers (Harry Sumnall)

References
Contributors
Index

[Lindsay Smith-Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is not entirely up-to-date anymore, as research into MDMA has been progressing, it was still a really interesting read.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a very good job of walking the reader through various aspects of the history of MDMA and some of the most up to date research about the substance.

While some of the chapters have a lot of complex scientific information that may be hard for the layperson to grasp, the reader is warned about this at the beginning of the book and informed that those chapters with the most specific and complex material aren't necessary for everyone to read.

This book included some very powerful interviews with people who have worked with this substance and in this way indirectly points the reader toward ways to get involved if they are interested in studying or working with this substance.

Overall, this book was pretty dry, but I guess it is to be expected. It was very informative and I feel as if it covered most of the important angles about the subject.

[Borisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you can possibly know about Ecstasy. I recommend this book to anyone out there who seeks information about it.

5stars, it was dry of course, and i did skip some parts mostly the chemical ones because i dont understand nothin' bout em :)

[Hank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn't like books on E...haha. Anyway, it is a very informative book, for those who care. I loved it and found its "no-sides" approach very helpful & interesting.