This report serves to investigate the effects of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy, MDMA) on the brain and therefore explain the potential threats that a person may face when driving while under the influence of MDMA. The report will set to find the effects of MDMA on the brain and how this may impair the driving ability of someone. Driving  is a modern day need. It is requirement for just about everything in this day and age whether it is for work, school, shopping or just for social contact with other humans. Drugs and alcohol have an effect on driving, with just over twelve hundred people dying on Australian roads last year alone. There definitely is cause for concern as most of those deaths were the result of driving while under the influence of some kind of alcohol or drug, being a danger to both the driver and others around them.

This report will uncover some information you may have not necessarily known about MDMA such as how it is synthesised, the way it is taken, its forms, the effects on the brain while under its influences and therefore its influences while driving .



Background

To begin, MDMAs full name is 3, 4 –Methylenedioxymethamphetamine which is more commonly known as ecstasy  was first synthesised in 1912 by the company Merck of Germany.  The chemical formula of MDMA is C11 H15 NO2 . The substance has been reproduced in many different forms that result in many different states along its lifetime. These may include some such as the pill or the crystal form which are most popular today since the 1970’s. The drug underwent many tests over its lifetime and today still is being illegally experimented with in therapy.  Today the drug is most popular with party goers who are looking for a psychedelic experience in either its pill or crystal form. The more potent crystal form is either inhaled or ingested but is not as popular as the pill form which is taken advantage of in numerous ways such as simple ingestion, inhaling after crushing of the pill or even with water as its base hydrochloride salt form is water soluble.

MDMA is created by, originally having safrole and brominating with hydro bromic acid it to form a chemical known as 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-bromopropane and this is then reacted with
methylamine among others such as sodium iodide, ammonia and ethylamine, forming the base form of MDMA as it was made in 1912. The illicit form of MDMA popular today is reacted with (3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone) beforehand.

Figure 1: Two of the main forms of MDMA https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(%C2%B1)-MDMA-Formel_Structural_Formulae.svg 24/10/2016

MDMA has a humongous effect on the brain when taken. Different forms effect in different ways at different speeds. Pills, which often are comprised of many different drugs can act as catalysts for MDMA to take effect on the brain and that makes them potentially a faster acting form, however the purest form that is said to be taken is pure crystal MDMA, which is either taken in pill caps or in crystal shards that are ingested. But how does this effect the brain. MDMA has the ability to mimic certain neurotransmitters in the brain, in particular serotonin and others like dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. These neurotransmitters in particular act as messengers for movement, joy and a sense of reward and happiness similar to that while one may be falling in love or participating in coitus. This leads to a counterfeit sense of enjoyment caused mainly by the overproduction of serotonin released . This can cause damage to the brain as a small percentage not able to cope with the drug can be left with damage of the brain due to the destruction of neurons in the brain. This is how one overdoses as the drug causes too much damage to the brain and the brain can no longer function leaving the taker of the drugs, simply put, lame or dead. Other  less depressing side effects after the high period, often known as the hang over is depression and negative mood itself, as the lack of serotonin makes one not feel as much happy feelings. And interesting fact is the experimental idea to use MDMA in a safe form to help coping veterans or others with post-traumatic stress disorder with their brain issues. MDMA mainly effects the prefrontal cortex of the brains frontal lobe which is responsible for cognitive functioning or rational thought. This can have terrible effects on young people taking the drug later in life as the prefrontal cortex, until the early 20’s, is still forming, which is the premise behind bad decisions made by children. This can cause adults to make later decisions later in life because a lack of cerebral cortex neurons because of permanent damage from MDMA. Even if it was only taken one time. The effects usually last around 8 hours and cause widening of the pupils, reaction times being tweaked negatively and the inability to sleep or thinking properly. 

Discussion

While  one is driving, which alone is a hazard (especially when no one is trained in the sacred art of using indicators) one will feel a false sense of confidence which causes the user to feel as they could be driving manoeuvres that take a lot of skill or that they are going too fast, on a highway for example, to conduct. Another effect is the ability to rationally think about cars around you which is an essential skill to safely drive on today’s roads. This easily is a huge danger in itself and can be caused by being tired and not just illicit drugs. MDMA also causes a human’s reaction times to be slower or at least less effective. This is unacceptable in a car as it is the equivalent of a small child driving while they aren’t even old enough to hand-eye co-ordinate throwing and catching small balls. Even if you have the reaction times of a jet fighter pilot, you still would not be able to drive without being a hazard on the road. Finally, the permanent damage to the prefrontal cortex which essentially disables rational thought once again, but on a more minor scale. The damage done can be regenerated as the brain can regrow neurons, however even after several years, someone’s neurons could be not much less damaged as they were after the drug abuse was committed . 

Conclusion

In  conclusion , MDMA causes more harm than good for young people deciding to be hip and cool and party. Not only do young people have damage to their prefrontal cortex and brain neurons after taking the drug the first time, later in life the damage can stick around causing issues with someone’s daily life. The inability to safely react and think rationally is a huge downfall in a human to begin with but combining it with driving on the road is immensely dangerous. Driving on the road is a responsibility for the driver and one cannot responsibly drive while under the influence of MDMA, in any form. It’s as simple as not driving while intoxicated.

Public Education Piece

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

References

: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEAr7ThsYew
: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdsuMGXePU
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_Australia_by_year
: http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/topics/how-does-ecstasy-affect-driving
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA
: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-does-mdma-do-to-brain
: https://mic.com/articles/137070/the-disturbing-truth-about-how-ecstasy-affects-the-brain#.z6cr3kTPE