My son is about to complete one year of his 35 month mandatory minimum sentence for one count of trafficking ecstasy (MDMA). From everything I have read (and I knew nothing about Ecstasy when he was arrested), it does not seem to be as bad a drug as most others. It does NOT cause addiction, so people are not out killing and stealing to get it. Treatment centers are not burdened with Ecstasy users. The only mortality statistics I could find were for 1998 when nine people died, some from the heat and dehydration from dancing at raves. How many died the same year from tobacco? I am not an illegal drug user and have never used any of them, but it seems unfair to treat ecstasy as strictly as they do other addictive drugs. This felony sentence will punish him the rest of his life. Am I crazy to think this way?

No..I don't think you are crazy for thinking this way...you are his mother and you don't get it. I am a teenager and was a drug addict. I wasn't that big into ecstasy...but I have done it. It isn't a good drug in any way. Sure its fun and all...but there are serious consequense to using it. It is such a dangerous drug b/c every pill is different. Ecstasy is a synthetic drug...it is made by people. It contains various types of drugs and amounts of them in one pill. You do not know what you are getting when you take on. It is soo dangerous b/c it is easy to O.D. it is also easy to become severely dehydrated and have seizures. You can have a heart attack or a stroke...ecstacy makes your heart beat rapidly and you don't realize what is going on b/c you feel so "happy and euphoric" It also puts holes into your brain. It affects your memory. Here is something I just found about the effects of ecstasy. Its from www.ecstasy-effects.com (http://www.ecstasy-effects.com/)
Ecstasy effects can create pain in the mind and body of the very user who seeks pleasure from ecstasy effects. Pleasurable ecstasy effects that are sought include a relaxed upbeat mood and feelings, reduced anxiety, increased sensitivity to others and a high energy level that can be sustained for many hours. Regretfully, some only believe in pleasurable ecstasy effects which may explain why ecstasy use has increased steadily in recent years. In three studied grade levels, 8th, 10th and 12th, ecstasy use has risen over the past two years and by the time America's youth enters the 12th grade 11% have been under the influence of ecstasy effects.*

This site is dedicated to those who have found their life severely impacted by ecstasy effects and need help. Ecstasy, a street name given for the chemical MDMA, is a synthetic, psychoactive , neurotoxic drug with many negative effects. Ecstasy has similar structure to stimulants, like cocaine, and hallucinogenics like LSD. Also similar to cocaine and amphetamines is the highly addictive nature of ecstasy effects. Another commonality of ecstasy and all other abused drugs is the down-side, the negative often long-lasting ecstasy effects that far outweigh the few short term pleasures listed above. Here are a few that may come as quickly as the first dose and increase with continued usage.

-Confusion
-Sleep problems
-Anxiety
-Teeth clenching
-Blurred vision
- Acne like rash
-Brain damage
-Depression
- Addiction
-Paranoia
-Nausea
-Chills and sweating
- Liver damage
-Aggression
In addition to these consequences, impaired memory and long term reduction of serotonin and dopamine can disrupt normal brain activity in the ecstasy user and cause learning disorders and emotional problems.. Erratic mood swings and depression can lead to isolation from friends and family that do not use. Often decreased performance on the job or in school occurs from ecstasy abuse and financial problems increase as well.

And as for..ecstasy not being addictive...it isn't physically addictive (or not to the extent of crack, heroin, cocaine, nicotine) but it causes a dependence. You feel like you need the drug. You enjoy the feeling. You become mentally addicted and emotionally addictive. As for people out killing and stealing for it...no they aren't like people do for heroin and crack and such...but people will go to extremes to get it. They will steal for anything if they want that thing bad enough.
In my opinion all drugs are bad. I know people who get severe sentences for the possesion or distribution of marijuana. Ecstasy is considered a controlled dangerous substance. For the distribution of it you can face up to 16 years in prison. I am sorry to hear that your son got in trouble for this. Hopefully it will change his outlook on the drug game. I was looking at 3 years (as a juvenille) for possession of a CDS. It sucks and seems unfair...but I have learned the drug game is not good!!!! I hope things work out. Hugs:p
-Jackie

hi all i have to say is that xtasy is addictive,you always want to go get more to feel the feelings when your on it . that used to be my drug of choice. i have seen people steal and do anything to get it . if theres a need for a dealer then there is enough poeple to keep him in bussness. one person is to many to die from using it. im not here to say what sentecne for your son should be im not here to judge and dont want to. all im here to say is lots of people die from xtasy thank god i wasnt one of them.

Excellent post Jackie!!!
It is so hard to deal with a loved one going to prison because of drugs. Ecstasy may not cause people to go out and do insane things to get it, but like all other drugs, it is just as scary in terms of the feeling it gives and the cravings it can cause.
Like Jackie said, I hope your son has a new outlook on life and drugs after all of this- I don't feel prison is the place for addicts- I just hope he realizes the road he was on was definitely a dead end.
Good luck to you and stay strong!

Rubydoodle,

My fiance is in on a charge for 2 pills being in his glove compartment of our car. Him and his buddy took off for Panama City got pulled over and his buddy told the cops it was not his so since it was my fiance's car he was charged with 2 only "2" pills went to jail in that state Alabama the other "BUDDY" walked off and we haven't seen him since hmmm wonder why. Anyway the turn out he 6 years for "possesion of 2 pills". He had only possesion nothing close to trafficking. I actually saw a show today on the discovery channell about X they are doing studies to see the difference in the brain and all aspects of memory, coordination, of thenon-user, occasional user and heavy users. I guess my belief on it is most of us have used or tryed drugs at point some more than others and we have to face that it is all illegal. All of it even ephedrine is now. No matter how much it hurts when our loved ones are locked up we have to face the fact that what they did was illegal. Don't get me wrong alot of punishment they sentence people to is severely harsh and some are not even guilty and get totally screwed over, hell I think 6 years for possesion on a first offense is very harsh. I think the only way to make a difference in your case is to fight the minimum mandatory sentence law to be changed. I still don't know if it will do your son anygood b/c of statute of limitations he has already done it and it will take alot for them to even consider changing the law. If thats what u believe needs to be changed then fight for it. We all are battleing something w/ the justice system.

Just keep ya head up and hang in there be there for him that is all we can do.

For the one post above about the addiction of MD*A and it's derivitives, I think some research must be taken when you state your views on the drug. I am not making a positive statement towards the drug, I am stating the fact(s)
Health Canada (Note: Canada which is not feeding people's head full of sh*t)
MDMA is not an addictive drug, the manufactuers will put addictive drugs in to reduce the costs and and build the addiction that isn't there, hence the fact that most consist of small traces of Crystal or other uppers such as forms of effedrine.
The chances of dying from a hit of E are very rare, what most people would die of is fake ecstasy, which can contain DXM, PCP, and worse yet PMA Para-Meth-amphetamine( which caused your body not to release sweat that helps in the natural cooling system that your body must do in order to overheat.
www.ecstasy.org (http://www.ecstasy.org) has some really good facts about certain drugs also. I am no longer involved in this drug as drugs have ruined many things in my life. And I am serving a conditional sentance for trafficking MDMA. I now live a life with a daughter that is just turning one year. I feel that I became very selfish when it came to this habit, and had very ill reguard toward what is most important. I have to teach her not to go the same road I took. I would love to see her grow up in a world that is free from this, but that isn't going to happen, so I must figure out the best way to teach her that she will come accross this down the road, and to educate her on the seemingly good points and bad points about doing this drug or others. Prohibition doesn't work, so what does?
Any Tips anyone!
Peace Out!
KJ

THATS THE SAME THING MY FIANCE IS IN FOR;TRAFFICING MDMA AND GOT THE SAME SENTENCE. I KNOW ITS A BAD DRUG AND THAT ALL DRUGS ARE BAD BUT 3 YEARS IS JUST NOT FAIR TO ME WHEN SOME RAPISTS AND MURDERS GET 5-10 OR EVEN LESS SOMETIMES...THE LEGAL SYSTEM NEEDS 2 CHANGE IN MY OPINION:angry:

Ecstacy is a very dangerous drug. It may not be "physically" addicting but its addicting. Our area is overrun w/ METH, you hardly ever hear of Cocaine Users and even Heroin in the treatment centers isn't as rampant as crank/meth.

Ecstacy can cause parkinson disease like symptoms and alot of times is used "in addition" to other drugs. Also, sometimes, some of the contents in ecstacy are similar to that of meth - the ephedra, ma huang (herbal ecstacy)...etc.

I'm sorry that he got time and not treatment. That's what ever addict needs

Rubydoodle, I know you must miss your son terribly, but I disagree with you on some points. Ecstacy is a dangerous drug that has caused deaths in users. OK, you are right, it's not addictive (to the best of my knowledge), but it is still deadly. You stated some statistics, but I want to add that if it has contributed to the death of ONE person, that's enough to deem it dangerous in my eyes. As the mother of a teenager, I am in agreement with strict sentences regarding the sale of dangerous drugs...and would STILL agree if it was my son who was concicted and charged (although like you, I know I would question it and compare). To answer your question, NO, I don't feel you are crazy to think this way- he's your son and you love him and it's natural for you to feel the way you do.
You make some excellent points though regarding tobacco. Why aren't the tobacco companies in there doing time with your son? And when was the last time someone beat someone to death is an 'Ecstacy' rage??
I hope your son's time passes quickly, and you can all put this experience behind you.

One other thing I'd like to add - I found a drug that most people didn't know what it was, not my judge in drug court at least......the police didn't know how to charge, it's not "addicting" but yet - I was addicted to it.

Addiction is not only a physical thing, its emotional and psychological. Just because I'm not shaking and sending my body into DT's and shock because I don't have it doesn't mean my brain isn't telling me I need it and my actions are demonstrating addictive characteristics.

I just want to clarify that Drugs are addicting, some are physically addicting and others are psychologically addicting. I didn't want anyone coming here thinking that its okay to use Ecstacy becasue as an addict, if we think we can use a drug and not be addicted and suffer negative consequences, because that is the one thing an addict strives to do, to find a drug they can successfully use. Your comment about it not being addictive could cause an addict to use it thinking they can use it responsibily when they can't.

From the about.com alcoholism site

Is MDMA Addictive?





For some people, MDMA can be addictive. A survey of young adult and adolescent MDMA users found that 43 percent of those who reported ecstasy use met the accepted diagnostic criteria for dependence, as evidenced by continued use despite knowledge of physical or psychological harm, withdrawal effects, and tolerance (or diminished response), and 34 percent met the criteria for drug abuse. Almost 60 percent of people who use MDMA report withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, and trouble concentrating.

MDMA affects many of the same neurotransmitters systems in the brain that are targeted by other addictive drugs. Experiments have shown that animals prefer MDMA, much like they do cocaine, over other pleasurable stimuli, another hallmark of most addictive drugs.

X is often seen and thought of as a "safe" drug...Kids will say, "Well at least I wasn't smoking crack". No synthetic drug is safe to take. I had a buddy die from a bad hit. HIs "friends" left him convulsing and sweating in a cheap hotel room where he died instead of taking him to get medical attention. You're not only taking a chance by taking these drugs....but you better stop and take a look at the people you're running with. 90% of your "friends" are people you'd NEVER think of hanging out with if you weren't using. X is like pot in a lot of ways. KIds take it at clubs and party...then next thing ya know, someone offers a bump in the bathroom...then next thing ya know, it's 3 days later. I hope I don't sound preachy....but that's how I see the subject

For those who dont know 'X' is Ectasy (MDMA).
It is very dangerous and the press has shifted its focus away from it and onto Meth. Though the drug has made a slight decline, it is still a dangerous drug. In the meantime people are still becoming permanently brain damaged or dying as a result of taking Ectasy.
Ecstasy causes long-lasting, possibly permanent, damage to nerve endings in the brain that are critical for thought and memory. It impairs the function and long term production of serotonin, a brain chemical playing a role in regulating mood memory, sleep, and appetite. In addition to its impact on the brain, research shows that ecstasy use can lead to disruptions in body temperature leading to harmful reactions such as dehydration, hyperthermia, and seizures, as well as dangerously high blood pressure and heart rate. Hyperthermia can result in the body’s vital organs shutting down which can lead to death.
It can cause something called serotonin syndrome which can cause death. When a person goes in to this toxic state, they need specialized medical attention immediately or they could die very rapidly.

My brother has been on remand for just over 6 months first offence for supply of ectasy. He gets sentenced in 22 days. And he's looking at doing about 2 to 4 years.
I don't believe in drug taking,or selling, but I understand where people are coming from when they say some rapists and murderers get less than some dealers.

My brother's bail was refused, but a guy in the court who slept with a 7 year old got bail. I can't understand how the heck the legal system works. Plus a guy here the other day got bail even though he was linked to the Bali nine who are in for life and some on death row. And that was for heroin. And they let him out. Strange.

Personally I feel X is a dangerous drug because I was addicted to it. Not physically and no I wouldn't steal or hurt someone to get it, but it was easy for me to get because lots of my friends sold it. I could have it whenever I wanted it and I liked it. I used to love the feeling it gave me. I would go out to clubs and party all nite until the sun came up and after that I was always ready for more. I would not sleep for days. It tore my life apart with my family. I acted as if I didn't have a care in the world, because as long as I knew I could take X everything would be okay. I knew it was bad for me and I hated the side effects of coming down off of the pill because I felt horrible. I was weak and energy-less. I wouldn't eat for days and I lost weight and didn't even realize it. My body just felt so weary and unhealthy. I had no one to blame but myself and the only way I wouldn't feel sick was if I took another pill. One day I woke up and looked in the mirror and I looked at myself up and down and said "I have a problem." I had lost like 20 lbs and I looked horrible. From that day on I had to quit. At first it was hard for me because I still wanted to take them every now and then. But I met my boyfriend who has been in jail for the past 3 months and he helped me get off. I met him last year and he wouldn't allow me to do them when we met. I was so glad because I really wanted to stop but I had no influence because all my friends were doing it and no one wanted to stop but me. He helped me get clean and I have been clean for almost a year now. I look better and I feel so much better and could not have done it without his support. I'm so happy now and as I look back I wonder how in the hell did that happen. God is sooooo Good!!!
As for your son I wish you the best and I don't agree with the drug laws either because my boyfriend was locked up for 7 years on drug charges. I hate to see your son get into so much trouble over X but I wanted you to know that it is a very bad drug. You are lucky because I live in texas and my friend was charged with 1 count of manslaughter for every X pill he was caught with.