The purpose of this report is to explain the effect of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on the brain and therefore its effect on the user’s mental health. MDMA is a common party drug that can severely damage user’s mental health. Regular use of MDMA can lead to a number of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and memory problems. Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are already major issues in society as it is without the use of MDMA. MDMA is mostly popular around youth and is often referred to as a party or “rave” drug due to the fact that it gives the users a euphoric high that allows them to become more sociable and affects the part of the brain that regulates sleep and appetite. Regular use of the drug leads to a damaged and depleted reward system of the users brain and especially to that of the brain’s serotonin receptors which are severely damaged when MDMA is taken. This leads to the user not being able to feel those normal, everyday feelings without taking MDMA, further damaging their mental and physical state.
This piece will provide information about how MDMA is synthesized and the drugs chemical properties, as well as giving information about specifically how the drug interacts with the brain and the damage it can cause to a user's mental health.



Background

 MDMA is made in many different ways, but the main way it is produced, which was the way it was first synthesised by Merck’s and co. pharmaceutical company, is by reacting pure safrole oil with hydrobromic acid which forms bromosafrole. From there the substance of methylamine is added to create the drug we know now as MDMA. Another popular starting material that is used is piperonal, which is used in the same way as the safrole oil. Although this is a popular method, it is not the only way to produce this deadly drug. Another synthesis route is to isomerize safrole turning it into isosafrole by heating it with either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). The isosafrole is then oxidised turning it into the substance MDP-2-P (3,4-Methylenedioxyphenylpropan-2-one.) From here the substance MDP-2-P can be reacted with Sodium Cyanoborohydride, Aluminium amalgam or Sodium borohydride in different ways to create the famous party drug known now as MDMA. After this process, this pure MDMA is also mixed with many other drugs such as methamphetamine, LSD, ketamine and even battery acid. Along with various over the counter drugs such as aspirin and atropine to create ecstasy. MDMA is a pure substance, whereas ecstasy has many additives and is potentially more dangerous than that of MDMA alone due to the unknown effects of additives.

(Figure 1) The synthesis of MDMA from pure safrole. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA#/media/File:MDA_from_safrole_en.png

MDMA has a molecular formula of C11H15NO2  and has a molecular weight of 193.246 g/mol. Also, pure MDMA has an oil based colour, but when in powder or pill form is usually white in colour. MDMA has a boiling point between 100-110 degrees celsius at the pressure of 0.4 mmHg in oil form. MDMA is also soluble in 400 ml/L of water at 25 degrees celsius. MDMA has a melting point of 153 degrees celsius.

(Figure 2) MDMA (3, 4 – Methylenedioxy-N-methyl amphetamine)  Retrieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MDMA.svg

MDMA is usually taken by either pill, crystal or powder form. The pill form of MDMA is simply just swallowed, but the powder form can be either snorted or put into water and drunk, the same with the powder form, the crystal form can be simply put into water and drunk. MDMA takes between 30 minutes to an hour before the user starts feeling the the drugs desired effects, being the ability to be more sociable and energetic, as well as not having an appetite or wanting to sleep. These effects typically lasts between 3 and 6 hours before the user begins to “come down”. Since the substance has to be ingested before it enters the bloodstream it does not have an immediate effect. Once it makes its way to the stomach, some of the MDMA molecules may be absorbed through the stomach wall and into the bloodstream, although majority of the molecules are taken from the stomach to the small intestine. This is because MDMA has a weak base, which means it can easily pick up and lose H+ (a hydrogen ion) from its surrounding, which when in the stomach is the gastric acid. (Which is H+ heavy). Charged ions have trouble crossing biological membranes, in this case the wall of the stomach, because these membranes have a non-charged core. Therefore the MDMA is emptied out into the small intestine which has a more alkaline environment, forcing it to lose its H+ ion and allows it to diffuse across the membrane quickly and get to the bloodstream. From there it travels to the heart which then pumps the MDMA filled blood to the brain.

MDMA starts having an effect once it reaches the brain. In a brain unaffected by MDMA or any other drugs, messages are sent and received through neurons. Once a message has been received, an electric pulse, called an action potential, is sent down the axon of the neuron to the axon terminal. Once the action potential has arrived at the axon terminal, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse (the gap between each neuron). These neurotransmitters diffuse rapidly across the synapse and then bind to receptors in the membrane of the dendrites of the next neuron. Any neurotransmitters that are left in the synapse are transported back into the presynaptic membrane, ready to be released again. When the body is introduced to MDMA, this process is completely changed. MDMA increases the amount of neurotransmitters being released such as dopamine, norepinephrine and especially serotonin. Serotonin is the main neurotransmitter that is affected when MDMA is introduced to the body and the brain. Serotonin affects behaviours like appetite, mood, sleeping patterns and pain. MDMA changes this process in three ways; firstly, MDMA blocks the reuptake of the serotonin molecules, forcing them to be left in the synapse. In addition to this, MDMA makes the serotonin transporters work in reverse, meaning instead of serotonin being transported from neuron to neuron, MDMA is now taken from neuron to neuron, again serotonin is left in synapse. Once the MDMA is inside the neuron, it reacts and forces more serotonin out than would naturally occur, (see figure 3). Overall when MDMA is introduced it both creates more serotonin to be in your brain and then keeps it thereby blocking its reuptake molecules. This increased amount of serotonin in the brain causes more receptor activity as well which increases the brain's electrical firing, giving the user this euphoric high and increased happiness and sociability.

(Figure 3) Ecstasy and its effect on the brain’s serotonin receptors and levels. Retrieved from: http://www.dancesafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/upclose-8.gif

Discussion

 Although MDMA gives the user a euphoric high, making them happier and more sociable, it does have many negative effects on the user's mental health. After taking MDMA, your serotonin levels are depleted and take a while before they start to fill up again as such. How long this takes depends on many things such as the individual’s diet, general health and how much of the drug they took. In the meantime this makes the user feel quite depressed because they don’t have the correct amount of chemicals in their brain, causing an imbalance. Eventually your serotonin levels go back to normal, but for regular users of the drug, their serotonin levels may never return, especially if they take the drug when they are not okay or fully recovered. There are many effects of depression, both mental and physical. If a person has used MDMA and become depressed, they may feel a loss of appetite, along with constant fatigue and sadness. The drug is most popular with young people, with almost 15% of Australian children 14 years old or older having tried MDMA or ecstasy at least once in their life already. This is a problem due to the fact that damaging your brain and central nervous system at a young age can affect you for the rest of your life, also with the possibility of getting depression can affect a young mind. In worst case scenarios depression can eventually lead to suicide. Some of the long term effects of regular MDMA use include reduced ability to control one’s emotions, problems with memory loss and concentration along with personality changes and irritation. These issues come about due to the damage done to the serotonin receptors and levels of serotonin in the brain. Because MDMA increases the amount of serotonin in the brain, users may become dependent on MDMA in order to feel good and sociable.This constant abuse further drains one’s serotonin levels and causes again a further imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

Conclusion

This report provides information about the drug MDMA and its effect on the brain, and therefore its effect on the user’s mental health. MDMA is a popular party drug that is most prevalent with the younger people in society. MDMA takes between 30 minutes to an hour to work and once it reaches the brain, MDMA gives the user a euphoric high, affecting their social capability, appetite and sleep patterns. MDMA works by affecting parts of the body's central nervous system as well as the release and reabsorption of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and especially serotonin.This results in the depletion of a user’s serotonin levels, leaving them in a depressed, anxious and irritated state. Repeated and regular use of MDMA is extremely harmful to a person’s mental health, with regular use leading to memory loss and further depression and anxiety later in life, as well as a permanently damaged reward pathway of the brain and serotonin neurons. Once taking ecstasy, people try and chase that euphoric and fake high that they felt, resulting in addiction to not only ecstasy but also other drugs. The use of this drug is a serious issue in a society that already has a major problem with individuals mental health, especially in that of young people.The use of MDMA comes with many negative connotations and usually results in the user either having mental health problems or even worse, trying other drugs, in an attempt to chase that much desired high.

Public Education Piece

My public education piece is a Brochure to advise the general public of the information learned during this research assignment.

References

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Bluebelly Harm Reduction. (November 11, 2009). Normal serotonin functioning (How ecstasy works part 1). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLVxickzsNs

AsapSCIENCE. (October 16, 2014). Your brain on MDMA. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEAr7ThsYew